Bernie Sanders staffers seek to address ‘predatory culture’ during 2016 campaign: report

FILE 2018, photo, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks about his new book, 'Where We Go From Here: Two Years in the Resistance' in Washington. (AP)

More than two dozen people who worked on Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign have called for a meeting with the senator and his top aides — saying there’s been talk in recent weeks about a “predatory culture” that developed while he was running.
The former staff members sent Sanders and his principal campaign committee a letter, which was published online Sunday by POLITICO, citing an “untenable and dangerous dynamic” that they hope to “pre-empt” in the “upcoming presidential cycle.”
The men and women requested a meeting in person “to discuss the issue of sexual violence and harassment” — but didn’t describe any specific incidents or accusations.
“In recent weeks there has been an ongoing conversation on social media, in texts, and in person, about the untenable and dangerous dynamic that developed during our campaign,” their letter says. “We the undersigned request a meeting with Senator Sanders and his leadership team … for the purpose of planning to mitigate the issue in the upcoming presidential cycle — both in the primary and potential general election campaigns for 2019 and 2020.”
Specifically, the staffers said they hope to establish “a follow-up plan for implementing concrete sexual harassment policies and procedures.”
“It is critically important that Senator Sanders attend this meeting to understand the full scope of the issue from 2016 and how the campaign plans to move forward,” their letter continues.
Some of the signers told POLITICO that they hope the proposed meeting wouldn’t bolster the longstanding “Bernie Bro” argument, but instead serve as a leading example of what campaigns should do in the wake of the #MeToo movement.
“This letter is just a start,” explained one organizer. “We are addressing what happened on the Bernie campaign but as people that work in this space we see that all campaigns are extremely dangerous to women and marginalized people and we are attempting to fix that.”
The signers who spoke to POLITICO insisted that their call for action wasn’t just about Sanders, but the senator’s campaign committee welcomed it anyway.
“We thank the signers of the letter for their willingness to engage in this incredibly important discussion,” they said in response. “We always welcome hearing the experiences and views of our former staff. We also value their right to come to us in a private way so their confidences and privacy are respected. And we will honor this principle with respect to this private letter.”

Texas AG ‘eager’ to defend court’s Obamacare ruling after judge issues stay

Ken Paxton, Texas' Republican attorney general considered the architect of the lawsuit to defeat Obamacare, said on Sunday that his office is "eager to defend" last month’s federal judge's ruling that declared the 2010 law unconstitutional.
Judge Reed O’Connor's Dec. 14 ruling is being challenged by 16 states. He said that the states are "unlikely to succeed" in court.
The Federal District Court in Fort Worth on Sunday issued a final judgment and granted a stay of the ruling. O’Connor reportedly said that the ruling should not go into full effect since many Americans would "face great uncertainty" during the appeal process.
Paxton said in the statement that the stay will give states a chance to develop plans "to address the health care needs of their residents for the day the ruling is ultimately upheld."
O'Connor, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, ruled that last year's tax cut bill knocked the constitutional foundation from under Obamacare by eliminating a penalty for not having coverage. The rest of the law cannot be separated from that provision and is therefore invalid, he wrote.
The New York Times reported that O’Connor—at the time of his original ruling—did not issue an injunction, so individuals were still able to sign up for the coverage.
Currently, about 10 million have subsidized private insurance through the health law's insurance markets, while an estimated 12 million low-income people are covered through its Medicaid expansion.
The White House said last month that it expects the ruling to be appealed to the Supreme Court. The five justices who upheld the health law in 2012 in the first major case -- Chief Justice John Roberts and the court's four liberals -- are all still serving.

Trump points to 'wall' built around Obama's DC home during fight for border wall funding

President Donald Trump signing criminal just reform legislation in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington.  (AP)
President Trump pointed to the wall former President Obama built around his Washington D.C., home as a reason Congress should fund his barrier on the southern border.
“President and Mrs. Obama built/has a ten foot Wall around their D.C. mansion/compound. I agree, totally necessary for their safety and security. The U.S. needs the same thing, slightly larger version!,” Trump tweeted on Sunday afternoon.
The former president and his wife, Michelle, bought the 8,200-square-foot mansion for $8.1 million in 2017, according to reports.
The house is in the Kalorama section of Washington, an exclusive enclave for diplomats, lobbyists and politicians, including Trump’s daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared, as well as Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos.
The Obamas bought the house after leasing it when Obama left office in 2016.
They made a number of renovations to the property at the time, including the wall.
Trump has been battling with congressional Democrats over funding for his wall on the southern border.
The president wants $5 billion for the barrier, but Democrats are offering only $1.6 billion for border security — and nothing for a wall.
The stalemate led to a partial government shutdown.

Dumb Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Cartoons

Russian, Turkish officials meet in Moscow to discuss U.S. troop withdrawal

OAN Newsroom
6:10 PM PT — Saturday, Dec. 28, 2018

Russian and Turkish officials meet in Moscow to discuss the upcoming withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria.
Foreign and defense ministers from the two countries met on Saturday and discussed ways to coordinate efforts to combat terrorism in the region.
Syria’s army entered Manbij for the first time in recent years on Friday, after Kurdish fighters called on Syrian forces to protect it from Turkey. However, the U.S. military cast its doubts on those claims, saying Syrian troops were only moving closer to the city.
Although few details were publicly announced, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the talks were “very useful,” regarding the U.S. withdrawal.
Sergei added Russia and Turkey have an “understanding” on how to continue ongoing efforts on the ground in Syria under the latest circumstances.
President Trump announced he would withdraw roughly two-thousand U.S. troops from Syria earlier in December. Although he’s received push-back, the President has maintained his stance, and says the U.S. has wasted “millions of dollars” in addition to costing the lost of American soldiers.

Ocasio-Cortez slams McCaskill after departing Dem calls her a 'thing' and a 'shiny object'

U.S. Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez responded to comments made by outgoing Sen. Claire McCaskill earlier this week in which she called the New York Democrat a “bright shiny new object.”
"Not sure why fmr Sen. McCaskill keeps going on TV to call me a 'thing' and 'shiny object,' but it's pretty disappointing," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Saturday.
"McCaskill promised she'd '100% back Trump up' on his anti-immigrant rhetoric & lost. In MO, almost all progressive ballot issues won," her tweet continued.
During an interview with CNN, MacCaskill, a Missouri Democrat, said of Ocasio-Cortez that she was “confused why she’s the thing,” referring to the attention Ocasio-Cortez has received from both major parties and the news media since defeating Democratic incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley in a June primary race, then beating Republican Anthony Pappas in November.
DEFEATED SEN. McCASKILL RIPS DEMOCRATIC PARTY OVER 'PURITY' DEMANDS, 'FAILURE' WITH RURAL AMERICA
“But it's a good example of what I'm talking about -- a bright shiny new object, came out of nowhere and surprised people when she beat a very experienced congressman,” McCaskill said.
McCaskill also cautioned Democrats to be wary of cheap rhetoric from rising Democratic stars like Ocasio-Cortez and said Republican senators privately think President Trump is "nuts."
Ocasio-Cortez, a self-described democratic socialist, has made climate change, income inequality and ending the “school-to-prison pipeline” her top priorities.
In a follow-up tweet, Ocasio-Cortez mentioned McCaskill again.
OCASIO-CORTEZ TAKES TIME OFF FOR 'SELF-CARE,' LAMENTS LOSS OF YOGA SESSIONS DUE TO POLITICS
“I'm also not sure why McCaskill is covering for the GOP by saying they 'secretly think Trump is nuts.'
"Nobody cares," Ocasio-Cortez wrote. "Trump is melting down our institutions and inciting division between people. At any time GOP could have checked him and choose not to. They're accomplices."

After Trump touts ‘Big progress’ in trade talks, China expresses willingness to work with US through ‘storms’

China’s foreign ministry said in a statement Sunday that Beijing is willing to work with the United States through “storms” in their relationship toward the goal of global stability.
The statement from ministry spokesman Lu Kang mentioned the consensus agreement that U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached during the Group of 20 Summit in Argentina earlier this month, Reuters reported.
On Saturday, Trump wrote in a Twitter message that “big progress” was being made in U.S.-China trade talks and that a potential deal was coming together “very well.”
“Just had a long and very good call with President Xi of China. Deal is moving along very well. If made, it will be very comprehensive, covering all subjects, areas and points of dispute. Big progress being made!” Trump wrote on Twitter.
Following the call, President Xi expressed hope that the two countries could advance toward a more cooperative relationship, Reuters reported Saturday.
The U.S. and China have been involved in a tit-for-tat trade battle throughout the course of 2018. The countries – the world’s two largest economies – have slapped tariffs on one another’s goods, though Washington and Beijing agreed on Dec. 1 to postpone further hikes in an effort to negotiate a deal that satisfies both sides.
If no trade deal is reached, the U.S. is ready on March 2 to increase tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods to 25 percent from 10 percent, which could potentially have a significant effect U.S. industries – such as electronics, furniture and machinery -- that depend on Chinese imports, the Wall Street Journal reported.
A tariff increase also could stall China’s economy, potentially slowing global growth, the report said.
A U.S. delegation of trade officials is expected to travel to Beijing in early January for negotiations with the Chinese. If those talks make progress, more negotiations will follow in Washington soon after, the Journal reported.
At the G-20 meetings, Trump and Xi agreed to a 90-day truce on tariff hikes in hopes of reaching a trade deal.

Women's March event canceled over concerns of being 'overwhelmingly white'

Protesters gather on the National Mall in Washington. in the first Women's March in Jan. 21, 2017. (Fox News)

Organizers of a Women’s March rally slated for Northern California next month have canceled the event, saying they were concerned that participants would have been “overwhelmingly white."
In a news release, organizers for the march in Eureka – about 270 miles north of San Francisco – said Friday the "decision was made after many conversations between local social-change organizers and supporters of the march.”
“Up to this point, the participants have been overwhelmingly white, lacking representation from several perspectives in our community,” the news release continued.
According to Census Bureau data from July, Humboldt County, where Eureka is the county seat, is 74 percent non-Hispanic white.
“I was appalled to be honest,” Amy Sawyer Long told the Washington Times. “I understand wanting a diverse group. However, we live in a predominantly white area … not to mention how is it beneficial to cancel? No matter the race people still want their voices heard.”

“I understand wanting a diverse group. However, we live in a predominantly white area … not to mention how is it beneficial to cancel? No matter the race people still want their voices heard.”
— Amy Sawyer Long

The rally, which had been planned for Jan. 19, would have commemorated the third anniversary of the original Women’s March, which was held Jan. 21, 2017, the day after President Trump took office.
The group said it is exploring shifting the rally to March to celebrate International Women’s Day.
The Women’s March movement has been marred by complaints from some black and Latina women, who've raised concerns that their input is often disregarded or overlooked, the New York Times reported.
The cancellation of the march in California follows a previous one in Chicago.
Women's March organizers in that city cited high costs and limited volunteer hours as reasons for nixing the annual rally, the Chicago Tribune reported.
“There’s no march, there’s no rally,” said Sara Kurensky, Women’s March Chicago board member. “We’re going to provide ways for people to organize and take action in their local communities.”
WOMEN’S MARCH LEADER CLAIMS SHE WAS KICKED OUT OF PROGRESSIVE GROUP FOR BEING JEWISH, REPORT SAYS
Meanwhile, the Women’s March national leadership has faced accusations of anti-Semitism because of ties to Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
In a speech in February, Farrakhan praised a Women's March co-President Tamika Mallory and declared “the powerful Jews are my enemy.”
Leaders of Women’s March Inc. have come under scrutiny for not condemning Farrakhan’s rhetoric fast enough. The Nation of Islam is considered a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
ALYSSA MILANO WON’T SPEAK AT WOMEN’S MARCH UNLESS ORGANIZERS CONDEMN LOUIS FARRAKHAN
Earlier this month, a Washington state chapter of the Women's March disbanded in protest because of the national group's links to anti-Semitism.
Marches and rallies are still planned for Jan. 19 in Washington, D.C., and dozens of other cities nationwide and internationally.