Trump suggests 'personal meeting' with China's Xi on Hong Kong protests

President Trump in a tweet Wednesday evening suggested a “personal meeting” with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid tensions in Hong Kong and fears that an escalating trade war could trigger a global recession.
“I have ZERO doubt that if President Xi wants to quickly and humanely solve the Hong Kong problem, he can do it,” Trump tweeted. Personal meeting?”
The president’s tweet came after weeks of sometimes violent clashes between pro-democracy protesters and police in Hong Kong that started over a now-defunct extradition bill that would allow defendants to be tried in mainland China. The unrest included massive protests at Hong Kong's airport that resulted in more than 100 flight cancellations.
One possibility for a face-to-face meeting between Trump and Xi could be in advance of the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York City, which is scheduled to begin Sept. 17.
In a separate tweet, Trump also mentioned his decision to delay new tariffs on $156 billion in Chinese goods from September until December.
“The American consumer is fine with or without the September date, but much good will come from the short deferral to December,” he wrote. “It actually helps China more than us, but will be reciprocated."
The administration decided this week to delay the new tariffs over concerns about the adverse effect it could have on the holiday shopping season.
The tweets also come as the Dow fell 800 points Wednesday amid worsening fears of a recession.

Hickenlooper will end 2020 presidential run Thursday, according to source

Facing the likelihood that he won’t make the stage at next month’s Democratic presidential debates, former two-term Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper will end his 2020 run for the White House on Thursday, a source close to him told the Associated Press.
Advisers close to Hickenlooper’s inner circle previously told Fox News that Hickenlooper was facing mounting national pressure to end his longshot bid for the White House and jump into Colorado's crowded Democratic U.S. Senate primary for the chance to face off next year against first-term GOP Sen. Cory Gardner.
Hickenlooper, 67, struggled to raise funding and his poll numbers as he pursued the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. Advisers reportedly say he'd be better off running against Gardner, a former two-term congressman who narrowly defeated incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Udall in 2014. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee views Gardner as vulnerable in 2020.
A Democratic source familiar with Hickenlooper’s recent conversations with Senate Democratic leadership regarding a potential Senate run told Fox News “the DSCC wants him to drop (his White House bid) and they want this recruit really badly.”
Hickenlooper, a geologist by training who started a successful brewery in downtown Denver and then served two terms as the city’s mayor before winning the governorship, left office in January with an approval rating nearly 20 percentage points above water.
A new poll in Colorado released this week suggested Hickenlooper would be far ahead of the rest of the already-crowded field of candidates for the Democratic Senate nomination if he were to join that race.
The source, who asked to remain anonymous in order to speak more freely, said that at a meeting in New York City earlier this month between Hickenlooper and Sen. Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the chamber, “Schumer made the point that if the governor were to run for the Senate, he would be a total hero. ... The governor could be the firewall between Mitch McConnell remaining as Senate majority leader and the Democrats taking back the Senate.”
A separate source, close to Hickenlooper’s inner circle, told Fox News that “everyone has come to him and said, ‘We need you, we need you, we need you,’ and I think the message of ‘You need to do this for the sake of the country’ resonates with him.”
Hickenlooper faced a large uphill climb to meet the two Democratic National Committee thresholds – campaign contributions from 130,000 individual donors and at least 2 percent in four qualifying polls – to make the stage at the next two debates, which will be held next month and in October.

Democratic presidential candidate and former two-term Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper speaks with Fox News in the spin room, following the second round of primary debates, in Detroit on July 30.

And the clock’s ticking: He has just two weeks left to qualify for the September showdown.
Fox News also confirmed a New York Times report on Tuesday evening that Hickenlooper met privately with Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado – a rival for the Democratic presidential nomination – when the two crossed paths while campaigning in Iowa over the past week. Aides to both campaigns have been tight-lipped about what the two discussed.
Bennet – he was superintendent of Denver’s schools under then-Mayor Hickenlooper – also refused during an MSNBC interview on Wednesday to divulge the topic of their conversation.
But Bennet described his former boss as a phenomenal governor and mayor and added, “I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t be a phenomenal senator, but he’s got to make his own decision.”
Bennet, who also faces a steep climb to make the upcoming debates, said he’d stay in the race even if he doesn’t qualify for the showdowns.
Hickenlooper had a lackluster second quarter of fundraising, bringing in just $1 million during the April-June period. And six weeks ago, much of his senior staff left the campaign over differences with the candidate over the future of the effort.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Israel may bar Omar, Tlaib from entering country over support of BDS movement: reports

Israeli officials told the country's lawmakers Wednesday that U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., may be barred from entering Israel for a planned visit this weekend, according to reports.
The two freshman congresswomen support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS), a pro-Palestinian advocacy organization, but Israeli law says those supporting boycotts of the country may be denied entry.
Waivers can be granted for diplomatic figures, however, Haaretz reported.
HOUSE OVERWHELMINGLY OKS RESOLUTION OPPOSING ISRAEL BOYCOTT IN RARE BIPARTISAN VOTE
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing pressure from Democratic leaders and some U.S.-based Israel advocacy groups that are advising against barring the congresswomen, The Washington Post reported. He has not yet made a decision, according to Haaretz.
In July, Israel’s U.S. ambassador said the country would not bar U.S. lawmakers out of “respect” for Congress and Israel’s longtime “alliance” with the U.S.
President Trump was reportedly frustrated last week when Israel announced the congresswomen would be allowed in the country, The Post reported.
Israeli officials said an announcement about the lawmakers would be made Thursday.

Kamala Harris slammed for 'politicizing' Philadelphia standoff

Sen. Kamala Harris faced criticism Wednesday for promoting her campaign's gun control plan during an appearance on CNN that coincided with breaking news about the police standoff in Philadelphia in which six officers were shot.
“When will it stop?” the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate from California asked CNN’s Wolf Blitzer when he asked for her reaction to the initial reports of the shooting.
“And I stress initial reports,” Blitzer added.
As Harris related details of her plan, information about the ongoing standoff was still sketchy.
Social media was quick to deride the presidential candidate for “politicizing” the developing situation before most of the relevant facts were known.
“After only one (1) hour Kamala Harris started talking gun control to Wolf Blizer BEFORE the Philadelphia Police had the shooter in Philadelphia out yet or BEFORE all the cops were OUT of their respective hospital yet ! I know that Harris wants to be the President but hey wait,” one person wrote.
“Why in the world did you come out with your political statements on CNN during the standoff of police and a madman shooter in Philadelphia?? How stupid and irresponsible of you," another tweeted.
'You used this as a political tool while bullets were flying and two officers were trapped in the house. Just disgusting. I’m from Philadelphia, we see it real clearly," another criticized.
One Twitter user suggested her statements weren't worthy of a president.
“Before the facts come out you took the opportunity to pre-judge the shooter in Philadelphia ... You have no clue about the gun or individual. Definitely not Presidential."
"BEFORE IT'S EVEN RESOLVED YOUR POLITICIZING THE PHILADELPHIA SHOOTER," another wrote.
The shooter, identified as Maurice Hill, 36, who has an extensive history of gun-related convictions.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross told reporters two officers with the Narcotics Strike Force were serving a warrant when the shooter opened fire at the home.
All of the wounded officers were expected to recover.

Make History Go Away Cartoons

In 1976 speech, Biden said US criminal justice should focus on punishment not rehabilitation

In a 1976 speech in Idaho, then-Sen. Joe Biden said the U.S. criminal justice system should stress punishment rather than rehabilitation -- a direct contradiction to his current platform, which focuses on rehabilitation, according to a report.
“Why should we liberals, why should we Democrats, apologize for saying a criminal justice system has implicit in it the idea that a crime should be met with a punishment? What is wrong with that?” the senator from Delaware said at the annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Boise, Idaho, in audio reportedly obtained by the Washington Examiner.

“Why should we liberals, why should we Democrats, apologize for saying a criminal justice system has implicit in it the idea that a crime should be met with a punishment? What is wrong with that?”
— Joe Biden, in 1976 speech

In the speech, Biden also said that liberals claim convicts need to be rehabilitated but there’s a recognition that "We have not found a way to rehabilitate.”
He added if Democrats didn’t get tougher on criminals voters would start to support politicians like Alabama segregationist George Wallace, who was strict on crime.
“When we don’t respond,” he said, according to the Examiner, “we allow men like [Wallace] to run around the nation talking about ‘pointy-headed federal judges’ and about the fact that we need more severe penalties in the government for crime, and people begin to believe him.”
Biden also said that diversity strengthening America is “poppycock,” adding that people “fear differences.”
Biden has faced scrutiny from his 2020 presidential rivals over his support for the 1994 crime bill and other past positions over his decades-long career.

George Washington mural should be covered but preserved, SF school board decides

The San Francisco school board on Tuesday voted 4-3 to cover a controversial 1936 George Washington mural at a local high school that includes images of slavery and the killing of a Native American.
The 13-panel “Life of Washington” will be preserved but covered by panels that show "the heroism of people of color in America, how we have fought against, and continue to battle discrimination, racism, hatred, and poverty” a proposal suggested by the board president said.
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People fill the main entryway of George Washington High School to view the controversial 13-panel, 1,600-square foot mural, the "Life of Washington," during an open house for the public in San Francisco, Aug. 1, 2019. (Associated Press)

The board voted on the removal of the 1,600-square-foot mural at George Washington High School after critics called it racist and offensive.
Those in favor of keeping the mural said removing it was historic and artistic censorship.

FBI to assist in Portland as city braces for dueling Antifa, right-wing protests

Portland, Ore., is gearing up for a set of dueling rallies this weekend that is expected to bring an informal coalition of right-wing groups-- some of which have been decried as white nationalists and white supremacists-- and so-called anti-fascists, who have violently opposed these right-wing demonstrators.
Portland’s so-called “Antifa” members have issued an online call to followers to turn out to “defend Portland from a far-Right attack.”
Portland’s Rose City Antifa, the nation’s oldest active anti-fascist group, said violence against right-wing demonstrators is “exactly what should happen when the far-right attempts to invade our town.”
Portland leaders are planning a major law enforcement presence on the heels of similar rallies in June and last summer that turned violent, and the recent hate-driven shooting in El Paso, Texas. None of the city’s nearly 1,000 police officers will have the day off, and Portland will get help from the Oregon State Police and the FBI. Mayor Ted Wheeler has said he may ask Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, to call up the Oregon National Guard.
Experts who track right-wing militias and hate groups warn that the mix of people heading to Portland also came together for a Unite the Right rally in 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia, which ended when a participant rammed his car into a crowd of counterprotesters, killing one and injuring 19.
A 5K race scheduled for Saturday was moved to avoid any violence, and an Irish bar that’s a city institution canceled an amateur boxing event that expected 500 spectators. Other businesses plan to close on one of the last weekends of the city’s peak tourist season.
One rally is being organized by a member of the controversial Proud Boys. Others are expected to include members of the American Guard, the Three Percenters, the Oathkeepers and the Daily Stormers.
The violent attacks at the end of June left eight people injured, including conservative writer Andy Ngo, who works for the website Quillette. Ngo said he sustained a brain injury during the assault.
Video of the 30-second attack grabbed national attention and further turned the focus on Portland as a new battleground in a divisive America.
Joe Biggs, an organizer of Saturday’s rally, said the attack on Ngo made him decide to hold the event with the goal of getting Antifa declared a domestic terrorist organization. Biggs said those coming to Portland have been told not to bring weapons or start fights, but they will defend themselves if attacked.
Biggs toned down his online rhetoric after the El Paso shootings and urged followers coming to Portland to keep a cool head. He said he is not racist — he has a toddler daughter with his Guyanese wife — but wants to show the world the violent tactics of Antifa.
“That group of Antifa there in Portland needs to be exposed for who they are,” Biggs said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “And guess what? They should be scared.”
Last month, President Trump said he was considering declaring Antifa a terrorist organization, equating it with the MS-13 street gang. Trump's tweet came days after Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, introduced non-binding legislation that would designate the group as a domestic terrorist organization.
Portland’s City Hall has been evacuated twice because of bomb threats after the June 29 skirmishes, and Wheeler, the mayor, has been pilloried by critics who incorrectly said he told police to stand down while anti-fascists went after right-wing demonstrators.
Police have noted the violence in June was limited to a small area of downtown Portland despite three different demonstrations that lasted more than five hours, with hundreds of people constantly on the move. They also made two arrests last week in a May Day assault on an Antifa member that became a rallying cry for the city’s far-left.