Donna Brazile Joins Fox News as a contributor…
March 18, 2019
I am excited by the opportunity to share my perspective and views with the Fox News audience and to help shape the dialogue at this important juncture in our history. More importantly, I’m eager to learn from the experience.
[...]
Will I agree with my fellow commentators at Fox News? Probably not. But I will listen. Will I question some of their assertions about hard-working Americans, low-income people and issues like climate change? Absolutely. But I will do so with civility and respect.Air and Marine Operations Crew Makes $76M Drug Interdictions…
March 18, 2019
Over a two-day period, agents from Air and Marine Operations (AMO) foiled an international attempt to smuggle nearly three-tons of cocaine across open waters between Feb. 28 and Mar. 2.
These efforts resulted in the capture of three suspects, the interception of the illicit narcotics valued at $76,456,839 and the seizure of two vessels.
NXIVM’s Keith Raniere pleads not guilty to child porn charges…
Update: Allison Mack, Lauren Salzman & Kathy Russell in Plea Deal Negotiations...
March 18, 2019
Keith Raniere entered the plea on Monday at a hearing where it became clear that his four co-defendants are taking steps to avoid going to trial with him next month.
Prosecutors hit Raniere last week with charges accusing him of creating and possessing images of a teenage girl. He was previously charged with operating a secret society within his NXIVM (NEHK'-see-uhm) group that allegedly forced women to have unwanted sex with him and branded them with his initials.
Raniere's co-defendants include Seagram liquor fortune heiress Clare Bronfman and TV actress Allison Mack. They have denied the charges. A prosecutor said the government is in plea negotiations with Mack and two others.
Michael Flynn’s Family Is at War With Each Other Over QAnon…
March 18, 2019
Because of Flynn’s role in QAnon lore, believers of the conspiracy theory are desperate for him to confirm that QAnon is real. But Flynn has never discussed the conspiracy theory publicly.
Into that void, his family members have stepped—but not with a unified voice. Instead, they’ve come down on opposite sides of the conspiracy, with his siblings Joseph Flynn and Barbara Redgate eagerly signaling support to QAnon believers, and his son Michael Flynn Jr. becoming a vocal QAnon skeptic.
Son defends parents caught in college admissions scandal while smoking blunt…
March 18, 2019
“They’re blowing this whole thing out of proportion,” said Malcolm Abbott outside the home that overlooks the Metropolitan Museum of Art. “I believe everyone has a right to go to college, man.”
The toker, who sports a ponytail and raps under the name “Billa,” then shamelessly plugged his music. “Check out my CD, ‘Cheese and Crackers,’ ” he said of his 2018 five-track record that includes a song titled “If I Lost My Money.”
Donald Trump-Xi Jinping meeting to end US-China trade war may be pushed back to June, sources say…
March 18, 2019
An April meeting has been described as less likely, but the two sides could be able to reach agreement by the middle of the year. One stumbling block appears to be the demand from some in the White House for an enforcement mechanism to ensure China lives up to its promises.
Building New Generation Digital Banks with Programmable Money and Trust: Are You Ready for the Next Round?…
March 18, 2019
It would be a very optimistic prediction if we say that blockchain technology will have an equal positive effect all over the world. We have already begun to see major differences in approach to these new tokens and innovations. Some countries are already assuming the leader role thanks to their innovative approach and risk appetite. China’s increasing trend in technological investments and growth in patent applications favor the country immensely. However, many western countries like Switzerland, Malta, Germany, USA, Estonia and the other Asia giant Japan do not lag following suit. The Swiss city of Zug has already earned the reputation as the Blockchain Valley thanks to their early recognition of the power of this recent technology, which they supported by establishing regulations for the private ventures that intend to use blockchain.
GOP moves to rein in president’s emergency powers…
March 18, 2019
Republicans are digging in for a long fight over reining in the president's emergency powers, setting up a potential clash with both the White House and Democrats.
President Trump on Friday vetoed Congress’s attempt to block his national emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border wall. With neither chamber expected to have the votes to override his veto, the president is poised to win round one of his fight with lawmakers.
But Republicans are already setting their sights on making it easier to terminate future emergency declarations — setting up an intriguing round two.
The future of AI is genderless?…
March 18, 2019
FastCompany asks: "Instead of giving everyone a subservient female assistant, what if our future AI helpers were designed to have no gender at all?"
As voice technology matures, it will blend natural language with sound to project additional meaning. This fusion of sound contextualization is another argument for decoupling gender from the identity of virtual assistants, in order to prioritize communication efficiency over superficial auditories.
AXIOS: 2020’s politically correct presidential election…
March 18, 2019
Look for 2020 Democratic candidates to be more careful than ever not to offend anyone, while Trump revels in the contrast with a stream of outlandish assertions and observations that will delight his followers.
On one side, you have President Trump, easily the most politically incorrect figure to win the White House in the modern era. He loves nothing more than to taunt liberals, the media and America with throwback thinking and insults.
On the other, you have the most diverse Democratic field ever, showing early and enthusiastic insistence on inclusivity, as well as race, gender and lifestyle sensitivity.
Nearly 40 advocacy groups press lawmakers over NSA call records program…
Read the letter...
March 18, 2019
Privacy activists have long argued that elements of the USA Freedom Act – which allows the government to access records on U.S. citizens without a warrant during terrorism investigations – should not be reauthorized. They say the program has not effectively stopped any terrorist attacks and encroaches on Americans' personal lives.
The USA Freedom Act, a pared-down version of the 2001 Patriot Act, is up for reauthorization at the end of this year.
The groups in the letter argued that Congress should investigate whether the NSA and other intelligence agencies are adhering to the restrictions placed on them by the Freedom Act.
Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy arrested on sexual battery charges involving child…
March 18, 2019
Fifty-eight-year-old Verol Cowans was arrested on Thursday and charged with four counts of sexual battery on a person less than 12 years old.
Cowans was on the clock as a deputy at the Joseph V. Conte Facility when BSO and Palm Beach County deputies took him into custody.
He allegedly admitted in a phone conversation to molesting his previous girlfriend’s daughter when she was 7 years old.
KDOT employee fired after tweet insulting the President from agency account…
March 18, 2019
On Sunday, a Kansas Department of Transportation employee lost their job after tweeting out an insult to President Trump from an official department Twitter account.
A verified Twitter account for the South Central KDOT page lashed out at the president in response to a tweet criticizing Fox News.
The @SCKansasKDOT tweet was online for about two hours before someone deleted it.
The Kansas Department of Transportation Acting Secretary Julie Lorenz said the person who tweeted it was fired.
Reuters accused of hiding damaging info on O’Rourke during fierce Senate election…
March 18, 2019
Reuters is facing ethical questions after admitting that reporter Joseph Menn sat on an unfavorable story about media darling Beto O’Rourke until after his crucial Senate race against Ted Cruz.
The report was embarrassing for O’Rourke, who expressed regret for his past actions and writings shortly after the article's publication.
But the reporter, it turns out, knew about this history since 2017 -- and sat on it. According to Menn, members of the hacking group were protecting O'Rourke's identity and wouldn't confirm his affiliation unless the reporter promised not to write about it until after the November election. They apparently struck a deal.
Boeing Stocks Tumbles On Grand Jury Subpoena Probing 737 MAX Approval…
March 18, 2019
According to the WSJ, a "grand jury in Washington, D.C., issued a broad subpoena dated March 11 - a day after the Ethiopian Airlines crash a week ago - to at least one person involved in the 737 MAX’s development, seeking related documents, including correspondence, emails and other messages." The subpoena, with a prosecutor from the Justice Department’s criminal division listed as a contact, sought documents to be handed over later this month.
1 Dead, Multiple Injured As Gunman Opens Fire On Utrecht Tram…
Update: Suspect arrested - 3 dead
March 18, 2019
A square around a tram station outside downtown Utrecht is on lockdown following the shooting, local media reported. Police have cordoned off the area and adjacent streets, but the perpetrator managed to escape.
Biden Says He’s The ‘Most Progressive’ Democrat As He Almost Announces His 2020 Candidacy…
March 18, 2019
The audience signaled approval for Biden almost declaring his intention to run as they rose to their feet and applauded, according to The Hill.
Biden quickly transitioned to attacks on Trump, whom he said was inspiring dictators around the world.
Woman gives birth to sextuplets in under 10 minutes…
March 18, 2019
A woman in Texas has given birth to sextuplets - the odds of which are estimated at 4.7 billion to one. The two sets of twin boys and one set of twin girls weighed between one pound 12 ounces and two pounds, 14 ounces.
Russian and U.S. diplomats to hold Venezuela talks in Italy this week…
March 18, 2019
United States Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov are due to meet in Rome this week to discuss the situation in Venezuela, diplomats from the two countries said.
Americans to bet $8.5 billion on NCAA’s ‘March Madness’ basketball tournament…
March 18, 2019
About 47 million people - one in five American adults - are expected to bet a combined $8.5 billion on “March Madness,” the annual men’s college basketball tournament, a new report said on Monday.