White House can't -- or won't -- explain Trump's wildfire tweets
Jeremy Diamond 2017Kevin Liptak-Profile-Image
By Jeremy Diamond and Kevin Liptak, CNN
Updated 0122 GMT (0922 HKT) August 8, 2018
WH won't explain Trump's wildfire tweets
The Carr Fire tears through Shasta, Calif., Thursday, July 26, 2018. Fueled by high temperatures, wind and low humidity, the blaze destroyed multiple homes and at least one historic building.
Bulldozer driver killed in California wildfire
firenadoes weather explainer graphic norman nr vpx_00005624
How do 'firenadoes' form?
goleta california wildfire sidner lklv nr vpx_00001506
Heatwave, winds fuel deadly fast-moving fires
Fast-moving wildfire kills 1 in California
Wildfires are turning California skies orange
Man rescues wild rabbit from blaze
Thomas Fire burns a hillside in Ojai, California, December 7, 2017.
California wildfire burns homes, kills horses
epaselect epa06372496 A Los Angeles County Fire helicopter flies over during the 'Skirball Fire' which began early morning in Bel-Air, California, USA, 06 December 2017. An outbreak of several fires North of Los Angeles has occurred as one of the strongest Santa Ana winds forecast of the season is ongoing and expected to last several days. EPA-EFE/JOHN CETRINO
Wildfires devastate Southern California
A firefighter runs while trying to save a home as a wildfire tears through Lakeport, Calif., Tuesday, July 31, 2018. The residence eventually burned. Firefighters pressed their battle against a pair of fires across Mendocino and Lake counties. In all, roughly 19,000 people have been warned to flee and 10,000 homes remain under threat. Noah Berger/AP
WH won't explain Trump's wildfire tweets
A firefighter runs while trying to save a home as a wildfire tears through Lakeport, Calif., Tuesday, July 31, 2018. The residence eventually burned. Firefighters pressed their battle against a pair of fires across Mendocino and Lake counties. In all, roughly 19,000 people have been warned to flee and 10,000 homes remain under threat. Noah Berger/AP
Mendocino Fire is largest in California history
Man 'wanted to comfort' grandson during fire
In this Friday, July 27, 2018 photo, a firefighting helicopter makes a water drop as the sun sets over a ridge burning near Redding, Calif., in efforts against the Carr Fire. Scorching heat, winds and dry conditions complicated firefighting efforts. (Hector Amezcua/The Sacramento Bee/ AP
California fires leave devastation in their wake
neil-diamond-firefighters.
Legendary singer surprises firefighters
An historic schoolhouse burns as the Carr Fire tears through Shasta, Calif., Thursday, July 26, 2018. Fueled by high temperatures, wind and low humidity, the blaze destroyed multiple homes and at least one historic building.
Family: Kids, great-grandmother killed in fire
Carr Fire widower describes emotional phone call
2 killed, thousands evacuated in wildfire
The Carr Fire tears through Shasta, Calif., Thursday, July 26, 2018. Fueled by high temperatures, wind and low humidity, the blaze destroyed multiple homes and at least one historic building. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Bulldozer driver killed in California wildfire
firenadoes weather explainer graphic norman nr vpx_00005624
How do 'firenadoes' form?
goleta california wildfire sidner lklv nr vpx_00001506
Heatwave, winds fuel deadly fast-moving fires
Fast-moving wildfire kills 1 in California
Inmate firefighters work as flames from the County Fire climb a hillside in Guinda, California, on July 1, 2018. - Californian authorities have issued red flag weather warnings and mandatory evacuation orders after a series of wildfires fanned by high winds and hot temperatures ripped through thousands of acres. The latest blaze, the County Fire sparked in Yolo County on June 30, had by July 1 afternoon spread across 22,000 acres (9,000 hectares) with zero percent containment, according to Cal Fire. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo credit should read JOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images)
Wildfires are turning California skies orange
Man rescues wild rabbit from blaze
Thomas Fire burns a hillside in Ojai, California, December 7, 2017.
Local emergency officials warned of powerful winds on Thursday that will feed wildfires raging in Los Angeles, threatening multi-million dollar mansions with blazes that have already forced more than 200,000 people to flee.
California wildfire burns homes, kills horses
epaselect epa06372496 A Los Angeles County Fire helicopter flies over during the 'Skirball Fire' which began early morning in Bel-Air, California, USA, 06 December 2017. An outbreak of several fires North of Los Angeles has occurred as one of the strongest Santa Ana winds forecast of the season is ongoing and expected to last several days. EPA-EFE/JOHN CETRINO
Wildfires devastate Southern California
A firefighter runs while trying to save a home as a wildfire tears through Lakeport, Calif., Tuesday, July 31, 2018. The residence eventually burned. Firefighters pressed their battle against a pair of fires across Mendocino and Lake counties. In all, roughly 19,000 people have been warned to flee and 10,000 homes remain under threat. Noah Berger/AP
WH won't explain Trump's wildfire tweets
A firefighter runs while trying to save a home as a wildfire tears through Lakeport, Calif., Tuesday, July 31, 2018. The residence eventually burned. Firefighters pressed their battle against a pair of fires across Mendocino and Lake counties. In all, roughly 19,000 people have been warned to flee and 10,000 homes remain under threat. Noah Berger/AP
Mendocino Fire is largest in California history
Man 'wanted to comfort' grandson during fire
In this Friday, July 27, 2018 photo, a firefighting helicopter makes a water drop as the sun sets over a ridge burning near Redding, Calif., in efforts against the Carr Fire. Scorching heat, winds and dry conditions complicated firefighting efforts. (Hector Amezcua/The Sacramento Bee/ AP
California fires leave devastation in their wake
neil-diamond-firefighters.
Legendary singer surprises firefighters
An historic schoolhouse burns as the Carr Fire tears through Shasta, Calif., Thursday, July 26, 2018. Fueled by high temperatures, wind and low humidity, the blaze destroyed multiple homes and at least one historic building. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Family: Kids, great-grandmother killed in fire
Carr Fire widower describes emotional phone call
TOPSHOT - A burning home is reflected in a pool during the Carr fire in Redding, California on July 27, 2018. - One firefighter has died and at least two others have been injured as wind-whipped flames tore through the region.
2 killed, thousands evacuated in wildfire
(CNN)Even the White House can't explain President Donald Trump's tweets suggesting California environmental laws have worsened wildfires raging in that state.
On Tuesday, administration officials declined to offer any clarity on Trump's series of tweets claiming environmental laws and water regulations in California are hampering the state's ability to fight the wildfires. Wildfire experts and local officials say the President's claims simply don't hold up.
Instead, some White House officials admitted to being slightly perplexed at where Trump may have gotten the notion that California's long-running water crisis and a debate over how to divide limited supplies are somehow related to the out of control fires.
California fire explodes in size, is now largest in state history
California fire explodes in size, is now largest in state history
While Trump's tweets can sometimes be linked to segments on Fox News, there have been no correlating segments linking the two issues in recent days on the channel that frequently serves as presidential inspiration. White House officials also couldn't say whether Trump had discussed the issue with California lawmakers involved in the water debate.
What Trump said
Trump launched his unfounded suggestions in a tweet on Sunday claiming: "California wildfires are being magnified & made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which aren't allowing massive amount of readily available water to be properly utilized."
Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
California wildfires are being magnified & made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which aren’t allowing massive amounts of readily available water to be properly utilized. It is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Must also tree clear to stop fire from spreading!
7:53 AM - Aug 7, 2018
He then claimed that the water is "being diverted into the Pacific Ocean."
He reiterated those claims on Monday, calling on Democratic California Gov. Jerry Brown to "allow the Free Flow of the vast amounts of water coming from the North and foolishly being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Can be used for fires, farming and everything else."
Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
Governor Jerry Brown must allow the Free Flow of the vast amounts of water coming from the North and foolishly being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Can be used for fires, farming and everything else. Think of California with plenty of Water - Nice! Fast Federal govt. approvals.
3:43 AM - Aug 7, 2018
Trump's claims are false, according to California officials and wildfire experts.
Trump said Tuesday at a dinner with business leaders that a "very tough situation" is underway in California, where wildfires are raging.
"It's been a very tough situation taking place in California for a number of years and we're going to have to have some meetings about it," Trump said from his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club.
Trump said there are "things you can do to mitigate" the damage, but did not expand upon his remarks.
He said he was "deeply grateful to firefighters and first responders" combating the flames, and said that his administration would do "everything in our power to protect those in harm's way."
He did not repeat his earlier claims, made on Twitter, that a water shortage was affecting impacting the state's ability to fight the fires.
What officials and experts have said
Local officials have made clear they have not had any difficulty accessing enough water to fight the fires. A FEMA official also told CNN there is no water shortage or problem with access to water hindering firefighting efforts in California.
Interior Department spokeswoman Heather Swift declined to comment on Trump's tweets: "We don't weigh in on the President's tweets. We let those statements speak for themselves."
As for water "being diverted into the Pacific Ocean," while there is a debate raging in California about how much water should be diverted to coastal communities versus farmers in the central part of the state, water is not being intentionally flushed into the ocean.
"I was stunned when I read this this morning," Henri Grissino-Mayer, a climatologist and biogeographer at the University of Tennessee, told CNN in an email. "California does NOT divert water to the ocean. Ridiculous."
Grissino-Mayer noted that water "is diverted to the coastal cities for a constant water supply but all such water is used by the coastal communities."
What's the context?
Trump's tweet comes after California water officials ignited a debate this summer by proposing a plan to limit the amount of water that can be drawn from the San Joaquin River for use in cities and farmlands.
The proposal has pitted farmers against fisheries and environmentalists, but Trump's attempt to connect the debate to wildfires doesn't pass muster.
Instead of environmental laws and water regulations, local officials and experts have said scorching heat and dry conditions have led to several of the worst wildfires California has ever seen.
Experts say those conditions are being driven by climate change, which Trump has previously dismissed as a hoax.
CNN's Brandon Miller, Judson Jones, Greg Wallace and Rene Marsh contributed to this report.
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Kansas man sentenced to life for killing Indian engineer in a bar - NBC News
Kansas man sentenced to life for killing Indian engineer in a bar
Adam Purinton shot and killed Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, after yelling, "Get out of my country." He also wounded another Indian man and a good Samaritan.
by Chris Fuchs / Aug.08.2018 / 3:19 AM ET
A Kansas man was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for fatally shooting an engineer from India after calling him a “terrorist" and yelling, "Get out of my country!" in a bar confrontation last year. The victim's companion, also from India, and a bar patron who intervened were wounded.
Adam Purinton, 53, was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty in May to three federal counts, including hate crime and firearm charges.
Image: Adam Purinton appearing via video conference from jail during his initial court appearance in OlatheAdam Purinton appears via video conference from jail during his initial court appearance in Olathe, Kansas, on Feb. 27, 2017.Jill Toyoshiba / Reuters pool file
Purinton admitted to killing Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, and wounding his friend Alok Madasani and a good Samaritan, Ian Gillot, at Austins Bar and Grill in Olathe, Kansas, in February 2017.
Purinton poked Kuchibhotla in the chest and called him an epithet against people of Middle Eastern descent, according to the Justice Department.
Image: Srinivas Kuchibhotla, left, poses for photo with Alok Madasani and his wife Sunayana Dumala in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.Srinivas Kuchibhotla, left, with Alok Madasani and Kuchibhotla's wife, Sunayana Dumala, in an undated photo.AP
He then drove home, got a gun and returned to the bar.
“The crimes at issue in this case are detestable," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said a statement Tuesday. "The defendant acted with clear premeditation in murdering one man, and attempting to murder a second man, simply because of their race, religion and national origin. As a result, a promising young life has been tragically cut short, and other lives have been filled with suffering.”
Purinton’s federal defense attorneys did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
Kuchibhotla was an aviation systems engineer and programs manager at the GPS maker Garmin. A spokesperson for his wife, Sunayana Dumala, said she would not attend Tuesday’s sentencing.
In her victim-impact statement, Dumala described Kuchibhotla as kind, caring and always respectful of others.
“If you could have kept your anger inside and spoke to my husband softly, Srinu would have been more than happy to share his background and help you understand that not every brown-skinned person is suspicious or evil, but kind, smart and contributing to America,” Dumala said. “Instead you chose to rage and bully in anger and when you were stopped, you decided to take their lives.”
Purinton’s sentencing on the federal indictment came a little more than three months after he was sentenced to life, 50 years without the possibility of parole, on a state charge of premeditated first-degree murder.
Kansas man pleads guilty to killing one in alleged hate crime
MAR.07.201801:22
A few weeks before the Feb. 22, 2017, shooting, Purinton was sitting alone at Austins Bar and Grill when he spotted Kuchibhotla and Madasani having a drink. In his plea agreement, he admitted saying to another patron, “Did you see the terrorists on the patio?”
On the night of the shooting, Purinton, again by himself, confronted Kuchibhotla and Madasani, demanding to know where they were from and how they got into the country.
Many crimes may look motivated by hate. Proving it can be a different story.
Purinton was escorted out of the bar, but drove home to get a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol. He had also changed his shirt and put on a blue-and-white scarf to disguise his identity, prosecutors said.
After shooting Kuchibhotla and Madasani, Purinton fled the bar, turning to shoot Grillot, who had given chase.
Hours later, Purinton told a friend over the phone, and later a bartender in person, that “he had just killed some Iranians,” according to prosecutors.
Purinton admitted that he had tried to kill Kuchibhotla and Madasani “because of their race, color, religion and national origin.”
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GUNS IN AMERICA
Gun control group targets firearms owners with new ads, seeks common ground
Gun regulation group coins a new term, 'family fire,' to describe the unintentional shooting of children in homes where guns are stored improperly.
by Dennis Romero / Aug.08.2018 / 11:03 PM ET
'End Family Fire' campaign targets gun owners
AUG.08.201802:14
The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, the group behind federal background checks for firearms purchasers, is launching a new ad campaign that is an effort to find common ground in a country divided on the issue of gun control.
The campaign launching Wednesday, finds its way to television via public service announcements facilitated by the Ad Council, and aims to make the term "family fire" a household word as it describes accidental shootings of children and other family members in homes across the nation.
"Rather than mudslinging and name calling, we’re focusing on how can we act to keep our kids alive," said Kyleanne Hunter, a Brady Center vice president. "And that might open the door to more discussion about how to end gun violence."
This foot-in-the-door strategy is composed of at least a year's worth of "End Family Fire" TV, digital and online ads that center on a conversation between an elementary-school aged boy and his father.
Ghost and the machine: Why officials across the country fear a new era of untraceable firearms
The boy asks if a firearm is in the house, but he soon reveals that he knows where it's kept and that he could use it to confront a bully. "But it is our gun," the boy says. "In our home. Happens all the time."
The full-length spot concludes with the words, "8 kids a day are accidentally killed or injured by FAMILY FIRE. FAMILY FIRE is a shooting involving an improperly stored gun."
The Brady Center, citing U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, states that 4.6 million children live in homes with unlocked and loaded guns; three in four know where the guns are stored.
So far, gun-owners' rights groups don't appear to be open to the Family Fire campaign. The National Rifle Association didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News.
But Jordan Stein, director of communications for the organization Gun Owners of America said via email that locking up firearms is not a panacea for keeping children away from danger.
"Every death is tragic, but statistically speaking, more young children die choking on hotdogs than are killed accidentally by firearms," he said, supporting his argument with recent data from the CDC. "So forcing every home to have their guns locked up will only make gun owners less safe. After all, when a criminal breaks into a person’s home, he’s not going to wait for the gun owner to unlock his firearm."
New "End Family Fire" Campaign Promotes Safer Gun Storage to Save LivesThe Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, the Ad Council, and Droga5 introduce new phrase and national PSAs to reduce the number of deaths and injuries resulting from unsecured or misused guns in the home.The Brady Campaign
The timing of the ad blitz — there still has been no federal legislative action following the school shooting in Parkland, Florida Feb. 14 and following the Las Vegas massacre Oct. 1 — could also be seen by anti-gun activists as odd.
Advocates for stricter rules for firearms owners are also grappling with hi-tech weapons, such as 3D printed guns and "ghost guns" made of untracable parts, that exist under the radar of law enforcement in most states.
But Brady Center officials say the need to find compromise with the gun owners' rights contingent is urgent: without it, a fix for easy access to firearms on the part of criminals and mass shooters might never be addressed.
"In the gun violence conversation, gun owners were largely missing," Hunter said. Added Kris Brown, co-president of the organization, "People are frustrated by the stalemate we have on both sides."
Keeping children away from guns should be a no-brainer, they argue, that everyone can get behind (even as comedian Sacha Baron Cohen trolled some Republicans to admit they embrace the idea that kids should be trained to use firearms).
"This is completely outside the realm of politics," Brown said. "It's not red state, blue state — it’s families who want to do what’s best to protect the most vulnerable."
In fact the Family Fire campaign officially recommends simply that gun owners with firearms stored in homes where children live keep them "secure" and separate from ammunition. "A simple gun lock can make a major difference," the campaign states on its website.
Hunter said the campaign, which is supported by the groups Droga5, National Parent Teacher Association, Doctors for America, the DC Police Foundation and others, is "in some ways" akin to the harm reduction movement for drug users: if nothing can stop it, society might as well make it as safe as possible.
"We have to find a way to foster a more rich and common understanding about guns in this country that don’t cause people to go to the other side of the divide," Brown said.
Adam Purinton shot and killed Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, after yelling, "Get out of my country." He also wounded another Indian man and a good Samaritan.
by Chris Fuchs / Aug.08.2018 / 3:19 AM ET
A Kansas man was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for fatally shooting an engineer from India after calling him a “terrorist" and yelling, "Get out of my country!" in a bar confrontation last year. The victim's companion, also from India, and a bar patron who intervened were wounded.
Adam Purinton, 53, was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty in May to three federal counts, including hate crime and firearm charges.
Image: Adam Purinton appearing via video conference from jail during his initial court appearance in OlatheAdam Purinton appears via video conference from jail during his initial court appearance in Olathe, Kansas, on Feb. 27, 2017.Jill Toyoshiba / Reuters pool file
Purinton admitted to killing Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, and wounding his friend Alok Madasani and a good Samaritan, Ian Gillot, at Austins Bar and Grill in Olathe, Kansas, in February 2017.
Purinton poked Kuchibhotla in the chest and called him an epithet against people of Middle Eastern descent, according to the Justice Department.
Image: Srinivas Kuchibhotla, left, poses for photo with Alok Madasani and his wife Sunayana Dumala in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.Srinivas Kuchibhotla, left, with Alok Madasani and Kuchibhotla's wife, Sunayana Dumala, in an undated photo.AP
He then drove home, got a gun and returned to the bar.
“The crimes at issue in this case are detestable," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said a statement Tuesday. "The defendant acted with clear premeditation in murdering one man, and attempting to murder a second man, simply because of their race, religion and national origin. As a result, a promising young life has been tragically cut short, and other lives have been filled with suffering.”
Purinton’s federal defense attorneys did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
Kuchibhotla was an aviation systems engineer and programs manager at the GPS maker Garmin. A spokesperson for his wife, Sunayana Dumala, said she would not attend Tuesday’s sentencing.
In her victim-impact statement, Dumala described Kuchibhotla as kind, caring and always respectful of others.
“If you could have kept your anger inside and spoke to my husband softly, Srinu would have been more than happy to share his background and help you understand that not every brown-skinned person is suspicious or evil, but kind, smart and contributing to America,” Dumala said. “Instead you chose to rage and bully in anger and when you were stopped, you decided to take their lives.”
Purinton’s sentencing on the federal indictment came a little more than three months after he was sentenced to life, 50 years without the possibility of parole, on a state charge of premeditated first-degree murder.
Kansas man pleads guilty to killing one in alleged hate crime
MAR.07.201801:22
A few weeks before the Feb. 22, 2017, shooting, Purinton was sitting alone at Austins Bar and Grill when he spotted Kuchibhotla and Madasani having a drink. In his plea agreement, he admitted saying to another patron, “Did you see the terrorists on the patio?”
On the night of the shooting, Purinton, again by himself, confronted Kuchibhotla and Madasani, demanding to know where they were from and how they got into the country.
Many crimes may look motivated by hate. Proving it can be a different story.
Purinton was escorted out of the bar, but drove home to get a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol. He had also changed his shirt and put on a blue-and-white scarf to disguise his identity, prosecutors said.
After shooting Kuchibhotla and Madasani, Purinton fled the bar, turning to shoot Grillot, who had given chase.
Hours later, Purinton told a friend over the phone, and later a bartender in person, that “he had just killed some Iranians,” according to prosecutors.
Purinton admitted that he had tried to kill Kuchibhotla and Madasani “because of their race, color, religion and national origin.”
Follow NBC Asian America on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr.
GUNS IN AMERICA
Gun control group targets firearms owners with new ads, seeks common ground
Gun regulation group coins a new term, 'family fire,' to describe the unintentional shooting of children in homes where guns are stored improperly.
by Dennis Romero / Aug.08.2018 / 11:03 PM ET
'End Family Fire' campaign targets gun owners
AUG.08.201802:14
The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, the group behind federal background checks for firearms purchasers, is launching a new ad campaign that is an effort to find common ground in a country divided on the issue of gun control.
The campaign launching Wednesday, finds its way to television via public service announcements facilitated by the Ad Council, and aims to make the term "family fire" a household word as it describes accidental shootings of children and other family members in homes across the nation.
"Rather than mudslinging and name calling, we’re focusing on how can we act to keep our kids alive," said Kyleanne Hunter, a Brady Center vice president. "And that might open the door to more discussion about how to end gun violence."
This foot-in-the-door strategy is composed of at least a year's worth of "End Family Fire" TV, digital and online ads that center on a conversation between an elementary-school aged boy and his father.
Ghost and the machine: Why officials across the country fear a new era of untraceable firearms
The boy asks if a firearm is in the house, but he soon reveals that he knows where it's kept and that he could use it to confront a bully. "But it is our gun," the boy says. "In our home. Happens all the time."
The full-length spot concludes with the words, "8 kids a day are accidentally killed or injured by FAMILY FIRE. FAMILY FIRE is a shooting involving an improperly stored gun."
The Brady Center, citing U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, states that 4.6 million children live in homes with unlocked and loaded guns; three in four know where the guns are stored.
So far, gun-owners' rights groups don't appear to be open to the Family Fire campaign. The National Rifle Association didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News.
But Jordan Stein, director of communications for the organization Gun Owners of America said via email that locking up firearms is not a panacea for keeping children away from danger.
"Every death is tragic, but statistically speaking, more young children die choking on hotdogs than are killed accidentally by firearms," he said, supporting his argument with recent data from the CDC. "So forcing every home to have their guns locked up will only make gun owners less safe. After all, when a criminal breaks into a person’s home, he’s not going to wait for the gun owner to unlock his firearm."
New "End Family Fire" Campaign Promotes Safer Gun Storage to Save LivesThe Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, the Ad Council, and Droga5 introduce new phrase and national PSAs to reduce the number of deaths and injuries resulting from unsecured or misused guns in the home.The Brady Campaign
The timing of the ad blitz — there still has been no federal legislative action following the school shooting in Parkland, Florida Feb. 14 and following the Las Vegas massacre Oct. 1 — could also be seen by anti-gun activists as odd.
Advocates for stricter rules for firearms owners are also grappling with hi-tech weapons, such as 3D printed guns and "ghost guns" made of untracable parts, that exist under the radar of law enforcement in most states.
But Brady Center officials say the need to find compromise with the gun owners' rights contingent is urgent: without it, a fix for easy access to firearms on the part of criminals and mass shooters might never be addressed.
"In the gun violence conversation, gun owners were largely missing," Hunter said. Added Kris Brown, co-president of the organization, "People are frustrated by the stalemate we have on both sides."
Keeping children away from guns should be a no-brainer, they argue, that everyone can get behind (even as comedian Sacha Baron Cohen trolled some Republicans to admit they embrace the idea that kids should be trained to use firearms).
"This is completely outside the realm of politics," Brown said. "It's not red state, blue state — it’s families who want to do what’s best to protect the most vulnerable."
In fact the Family Fire campaign officially recommends simply that gun owners with firearms stored in homes where children live keep them "secure" and separate from ammunition. "A simple gun lock can make a major difference," the campaign states on its website.
Hunter said the campaign, which is supported by the groups Droga5, National Parent Teacher Association, Doctors for America, the DC Police Foundation and others, is "in some ways" akin to the harm reduction movement for drug users: if nothing can stop it, society might as well make it as safe as possible.
"We have to find a way to foster a more rich and common understanding about guns in this country that don’t cause people to go to the other side of the divide," Brown said.
Malaysia’s Ex-Leader Najib Razak Is Charged With Money Laundering - New York Times
Malaysia’s Ex-Leader Najib Razak Is Charged With Money Laundering
Najib Razak in July. The former Malaysian prime minister faced new charges Wednesday stemming from the scandal over a state investment fund that led to his election defeat.CreditLai Seng Sin/Reuters
By Mike Ives
Aug. 8, 2018
HONG KONG — The Malaysian authorities charged Najib Razak, the former prime minister, with three counts of money laundering on Wednesday, the latest escalation in an inquiry involving billions of dollars diverted from a state investment fund.
The charges came a day after Malaysia’s attorney general announced that a $250 million yacht, which prosecutors say was bought with money stolen from the fund, had been returned to Malaysia from Indonesia, where it was seized in February.
The new charges are linked to three electronic transfers worth a total of $10 million from a onetime unit of the investment fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad, that prosecutors say were made into Mr. Najib’s bank accounts.
That is only a small fraction of the fraud alleged to have been carried out. United States prosecutors have said that at least $4.5 billion from the fund, known as 1MDB, was laundered through American financial institutions and misspent by Mr. Najib, his family and associates.
Mr. Najib, who was ousted in a May election, pleaded not guilty to all three new charges, the local news media reported. Reuters reported that each charge carries a jail sentence of up to 15 years, plus fines of at least $1.2 million.
Mr. Najib, 65, also pleaded not guilty last month to three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of corruption in connection with the scandal surrounding the state investment fund.
Court documents show that the first of the three wire transfers to Mr. Najib’s accounts from SRC International, the onetime unit of the state investment fund, occurred in 2014, two years after SRC was placed under the Finance Ministry’s jurisdiction.
On Wednesday, Mr. Najib’s lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, told reporters that the money-laundering charges had “nothing to do” with 1MDB because SRC was not part of the fund when the transfers were made.
“I hope they are not arranging the coincidence of the yacht arriving in Klang with the sudden decision to charge my client today,” Mr. Abdullah added, referring to Port Klang, where the yacht has been impounded.
N. Surendran, a former lawmaker who advises Lawyers for Liberty, a Malaysian advocacy group, said that the earlier breach of trust charges against Mr. Najib were related to the same money transfers cited in the charges brought Wednesday. “It is almost certain there will be more charges looking at the large amounts and various transactions involving 1MDB monies,” he said.
Image
Prosecutors say this yacht, known as Equanimity, was bought with $250 million stolen from the state investment fund. It was seized in Indonesia in February and taken to Malaysia this week.CreditAgence France-Presse — Getty Images
Mr. Najib set up the investment fund in 2009, the year he became prime minister, to promote economic development.
With corruption accusations swirling around the fund in recent years, Mr. Najib’s onetime mentor, Mahathir Mohamad, successfully ran against him in the May election, promising to bring him to justice.
Since Mr. Mahathir became prime minister, Malaysian officials have blocked Mr. Najib and his wife from leaving the country; seized cash and other valuables worth as much as $273 million from the couple’s properties; and arrested Mr. Najib in connection with the investigation into SRC International.
A spokesman for Mr. Najib has called the arrest “politically motivated and the result of political vengeance” by Mr. Mahathir and his governing coalition, many of whose leaders spent decades in the opposition.
American prosecutors have accused Mr. Najib of diverting $731 million from 1MDB into his account. They say the money was spent on a parade of luxury items, including a $27.3 million pink diamond necklace, luxury real estate in the United States and paintings by Monet, Warhol, Van Gogh and others worth over $200 million.
Prosecutors say $250 million more was used to buy Equanimity, the yacht that Malaysia’s attorney general, Tommy Thomas, said Tuesday had been returned to Malaysia.
Equanimity, which has a helicopter pad and a private movie theater, was initially seized in Indonesia in February. Its owners, who are based in the Cayman Islands, have called the handover of the yacht to Malaysia “unlawful and extrajudicial” in a court filing in the United States, Reuters reported.
The United States Department of Justice alleges that the yacht was purchased with 1MDB funds by Jho Low, a Malaysian financier who is a friend of Mr. Najib’s stepson, Riza Aziz. Mr. Low’s Malaysian passport has been revoked, but as of Wednesday, his whereabouts was unknown.
Mr. Thomas said Tuesday in a statement that the Indonesian authorities had seized the yacht at the request of the United States Department of Justice, “which asserted ownership of the yacht on behalf of Malaysia and 1MDB because monies belonging to us were used to purchase it.”
On Friday, a judge was scheduled to rule on whether to uphold an interim court order restricting what the Malaysian news media can report about the case. A judge issued the order last month after Mr. Shafee, Mr. Najib’s lawyer, argued that it was necessary for a fair trial, but Mr. Thomas has said it violates Malaysian laws on free speech.
Federal prosecutors in the United States are looking at the potential culpability of Goldman Sachs in the case, according to people familiar with the investigation. Goldman helped 1MDB sell billions of dollars in bonds to investors, earning about $600 million in fees. The investment bank has said that it is cooperating with the inquiry and that it had been unaware of how money from the fund was being used.
Sharon Tan contributed reporting from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Najib Razak in July. The former Malaysian prime minister faced new charges Wednesday stemming from the scandal over a state investment fund that led to his election defeat.CreditLai Seng Sin/Reuters
By Mike Ives
Aug. 8, 2018
HONG KONG — The Malaysian authorities charged Najib Razak, the former prime minister, with three counts of money laundering on Wednesday, the latest escalation in an inquiry involving billions of dollars diverted from a state investment fund.
The charges came a day after Malaysia’s attorney general announced that a $250 million yacht, which prosecutors say was bought with money stolen from the fund, had been returned to Malaysia from Indonesia, where it was seized in February.
The new charges are linked to three electronic transfers worth a total of $10 million from a onetime unit of the investment fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad, that prosecutors say were made into Mr. Najib’s bank accounts.
That is only a small fraction of the fraud alleged to have been carried out. United States prosecutors have said that at least $4.5 billion from the fund, known as 1MDB, was laundered through American financial institutions and misspent by Mr. Najib, his family and associates.
Mr. Najib, who was ousted in a May election, pleaded not guilty to all three new charges, the local news media reported. Reuters reported that each charge carries a jail sentence of up to 15 years, plus fines of at least $1.2 million.
Mr. Najib, 65, also pleaded not guilty last month to three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of corruption in connection with the scandal surrounding the state investment fund.
Court documents show that the first of the three wire transfers to Mr. Najib’s accounts from SRC International, the onetime unit of the state investment fund, occurred in 2014, two years after SRC was placed under the Finance Ministry’s jurisdiction.
On Wednesday, Mr. Najib’s lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, told reporters that the money-laundering charges had “nothing to do” with 1MDB because SRC was not part of the fund when the transfers were made.
“I hope they are not arranging the coincidence of the yacht arriving in Klang with the sudden decision to charge my client today,” Mr. Abdullah added, referring to Port Klang, where the yacht has been impounded.
N. Surendran, a former lawmaker who advises Lawyers for Liberty, a Malaysian advocacy group, said that the earlier breach of trust charges against Mr. Najib were related to the same money transfers cited in the charges brought Wednesday. “It is almost certain there will be more charges looking at the large amounts and various transactions involving 1MDB monies,” he said.
Image
Prosecutors say this yacht, known as Equanimity, was bought with $250 million stolen from the state investment fund. It was seized in Indonesia in February and taken to Malaysia this week.CreditAgence France-Presse — Getty Images
Mr. Najib set up the investment fund in 2009, the year he became prime minister, to promote economic development.
With corruption accusations swirling around the fund in recent years, Mr. Najib’s onetime mentor, Mahathir Mohamad, successfully ran against him in the May election, promising to bring him to justice.
Since Mr. Mahathir became prime minister, Malaysian officials have blocked Mr. Najib and his wife from leaving the country; seized cash and other valuables worth as much as $273 million from the couple’s properties; and arrested Mr. Najib in connection with the investigation into SRC International.
A spokesman for Mr. Najib has called the arrest “politically motivated and the result of political vengeance” by Mr. Mahathir and his governing coalition, many of whose leaders spent decades in the opposition.
American prosecutors have accused Mr. Najib of diverting $731 million from 1MDB into his account. They say the money was spent on a parade of luxury items, including a $27.3 million pink diamond necklace, luxury real estate in the United States and paintings by Monet, Warhol, Van Gogh and others worth over $200 million.
Prosecutors say $250 million more was used to buy Equanimity, the yacht that Malaysia’s attorney general, Tommy Thomas, said Tuesday had been returned to Malaysia.
Equanimity, which has a helicopter pad and a private movie theater, was initially seized in Indonesia in February. Its owners, who are based in the Cayman Islands, have called the handover of the yacht to Malaysia “unlawful and extrajudicial” in a court filing in the United States, Reuters reported.
The United States Department of Justice alleges that the yacht was purchased with 1MDB funds by Jho Low, a Malaysian financier who is a friend of Mr. Najib’s stepson, Riza Aziz. Mr. Low’s Malaysian passport has been revoked, but as of Wednesday, his whereabouts was unknown.
Mr. Thomas said Tuesday in a statement that the Indonesian authorities had seized the yacht at the request of the United States Department of Justice, “which asserted ownership of the yacht on behalf of Malaysia and 1MDB because monies belonging to us were used to purchase it.”
On Friday, a judge was scheduled to rule on whether to uphold an interim court order restricting what the Malaysian news media can report about the case. A judge issued the order last month after Mr. Shafee, Mr. Najib’s lawyer, argued that it was necessary for a fair trial, but Mr. Thomas has said it violates Malaysian laws on free speech.
Federal prosecutors in the United States are looking at the potential culpability of Goldman Sachs in the case, according to people familiar with the investigation. Goldman helped 1MDB sell billions of dollars in bonds to investors, earning about $600 million in fees. The investment bank has said that it is cooperating with the inquiry and that it had been unaware of how money from the fund was being used.
Sharon Tan contributed reporting from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Trump ally Kobach holds narrow lead in Kansas gubernatorial primary - Reuters
AUGUST 8, 2018 / 10:59 PM / UPDATED 11 MINUTES AGO
Trump ally Kobach holds narrow lead in Kansas gubernatorial primary
Reuters Staff
(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s first choice as governor of Kansas, Kris Kobach, held a narrow, 200-vote lead in the Republican primary over the current governor with nearly all votes counted, according to the Kansas Secretary of State web site.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump stands with Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach before their meeting at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S., on November 20, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo
As of 8:45 a.m. EST (1245 GMT), Kobach and incumbent Jeff Colyer both had about 41 percent of the vote. Kobach, a staunch ally of Trump, was endorsed by the president in the waning days of the hard-fought primary.
Reporting By David Gaffen; Editing by Bernadette Baum
Trump ally Kobach holds narrow lead in Kansas gubernatorial primary
Reuters Staff
(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s first choice as governor of Kansas, Kris Kobach, held a narrow, 200-vote lead in the Republican primary over the current governor with nearly all votes counted, according to the Kansas Secretary of State web site.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump stands with Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach before their meeting at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S., on November 20, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo
As of 8:45 a.m. EST (1245 GMT), Kobach and incumbent Jeff Colyer both had about 41 percent of the vote. Kobach, a staunch ally of Trump, was endorsed by the president in the waning days of the hard-fought primary.
Reporting By David Gaffen; Editing by Bernadette Baum
Ivanka Trump: Celebrities Instagram plea over family separation - BBC News
August 8, 2018.
Ivanka Trump: Celebrities Instagram plea over family separation
Ivanka Trump is often seen as a route to her father's ear
Ivanka Trump has been inundated with an appeal from celebrities on Instagram, begging her to take action on the separation of migrant families at the border.
It comes after US officials separated more than 2,500 children from undocumented adults at the border with Mexico earlier this year, in a "zero tolerance" crackdown on illegal immigration.
The policy was suspended by Ms Trump's father, President Donald Trump, last month after a fierce backlash.
However, hundreds of children remain separated from their parents - the focus of the posts.
So what does the appeal say?
The post reportedly originated with three women: Sarah Sophie Flicker, Paola Mendoza, and Alyssa Klein - described as "women's march alums [alumni]" by website Bustle .
It didn't take long for people like comedian Amy Schumer, television presenter Alexa Chung and GirlBoss founder Sophia Moruso - all of whom are followed by the "first daughter" - to pick up the baton and try to get Ms Trump's attention.
The post addresses Ms Trump directly but what else does it say? Let's break it down.
You said family separation was a "low point" for you. The low point is for the separated families. You spoke in past tense. This crisis is ongoing.
Ms Trump addressed the issue during an interview with the Axios news site last Thursday - the first time she had addressed the crisis in anything more than a tweet.
"That was a low point for me as well," she said, according to CNN.
"I felt very strongly about that and I am very vehemently against family separation and the separation of parents and children so I would agree with that sentiment."
Migrant boys detained in a former Walmart in Texas
So Ms Trump did address it as a past-tense issue. But while her father signed an executive order on 21 June which promised to "keep families together" in migrant detentions, the issue is still affecting hundreds of families.
As of now 572 children have not been reunited.... Approximately 400 parents have been deported without their children.
The order did not address those families already separated by the policy.
The Instagram post uses the government's own figures, released the same day Ms Trump spoke, to illustrate how it is an ongoing issue.
...A child has died after separation... There have been multiple claims of sexual and physical abuse in detention. There have been psychotropic drugs administered to children in detention without parental consent.
Reports a child had died shortly after leaving an immigration detention facility in Texas emerged last week. However, it is unclear what exactly happened, news agency Associated Press reported.
There have also been reports of abuse taking place at the shelters caring for the children, although some of it is historic. A lawsuit alleging children were forcibly injected at one of the centres is currently going through the courts, according to The Texas Tribune.
But what has this got to do with Ivanka Trump?
Well, Ms Trump does act as a "special advisor" to her father, but does not have any special role regarding immigration.
Ms Trump is known to be close to her father
However, it is widely believed Ms Trump is one of the few people who can influence her father.
In this case, those sharing the post want her to use that influence to ask him to fire Kirstjen Nielsen, who heads up homeland security - the department responsible for the policy.
Is the appeal likely to work?
Ms Trump did not immediately respond to the appeal on Instagram and it is unclear if she will have even seen the posts. Ms Trump follows 1,146 people on Instagram. What's more, despite the page saying it is "personal", there is a chance she might not even run it herself.
A similar push on social media in 2017 - this time focusing on protecting the "Dreamers", young immigrants brought to the US illegally - also failed to reap any tangible rewards.
Far more likely to get her attention are the reams of newspaper headlines the campaign has generated.
Ivanka Trump: Celebrities Instagram plea over family separation
Ivanka Trump is often seen as a route to her father's ear
Ivanka Trump has been inundated with an appeal from celebrities on Instagram, begging her to take action on the separation of migrant families at the border.
It comes after US officials separated more than 2,500 children from undocumented adults at the border with Mexico earlier this year, in a "zero tolerance" crackdown on illegal immigration.
The policy was suspended by Ms Trump's father, President Donald Trump, last month after a fierce backlash.
However, hundreds of children remain separated from their parents - the focus of the posts.
So what does the appeal say?
The post reportedly originated with three women: Sarah Sophie Flicker, Paola Mendoza, and Alyssa Klein - described as "women's march alums [alumni]" by website Bustle .
It didn't take long for people like comedian Amy Schumer, television presenter Alexa Chung and GirlBoss founder Sophia Moruso - all of whom are followed by the "first daughter" - to pick up the baton and try to get Ms Trump's attention.
The post addresses Ms Trump directly but what else does it say? Let's break it down.
You said family separation was a "low point" for you. The low point is for the separated families. You spoke in past tense. This crisis is ongoing.
Ms Trump addressed the issue during an interview with the Axios news site last Thursday - the first time she had addressed the crisis in anything more than a tweet.
"That was a low point for me as well," she said, according to CNN.
"I felt very strongly about that and I am very vehemently against family separation and the separation of parents and children so I would agree with that sentiment."
Migrant boys detained in a former Walmart in Texas
So Ms Trump did address it as a past-tense issue. But while her father signed an executive order on 21 June which promised to "keep families together" in migrant detentions, the issue is still affecting hundreds of families.
As of now 572 children have not been reunited.... Approximately 400 parents have been deported without their children.
The order did not address those families already separated by the policy.
The Instagram post uses the government's own figures, released the same day Ms Trump spoke, to illustrate how it is an ongoing issue.
...A child has died after separation... There have been multiple claims of sexual and physical abuse in detention. There have been psychotropic drugs administered to children in detention without parental consent.
Reports a child had died shortly after leaving an immigration detention facility in Texas emerged last week. However, it is unclear what exactly happened, news agency Associated Press reported.
There have also been reports of abuse taking place at the shelters caring for the children, although some of it is historic. A lawsuit alleging children were forcibly injected at one of the centres is currently going through the courts, according to The Texas Tribune.
But what has this got to do with Ivanka Trump?
Well, Ms Trump does act as a "special advisor" to her father, but does not have any special role regarding immigration.
Ms Trump is known to be close to her father
However, it is widely believed Ms Trump is one of the few people who can influence her father.
In this case, those sharing the post want her to use that influence to ask him to fire Kirstjen Nielsen, who heads up homeland security - the department responsible for the policy.
Is the appeal likely to work?
Ms Trump did not immediately respond to the appeal on Instagram and it is unclear if she will have even seen the posts. Ms Trump follows 1,146 people on Instagram. What's more, despite the page saying it is "personal", there is a chance she might not even run it herself.
A similar push on social media in 2017 - this time focusing on protecting the "Dreamers", young immigrants brought to the US illegally - also failed to reap any tangible rewards.
Far more likely to get her attention are the reams of newspaper headlines the campaign has generated.
US mid-term elections: Women break records for nominations - BBC News
US mid-term elections: Women break records for nominations
8 August 2018
L-R Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, Republican Susan Hutchison and Democrat Rashida Tlaib, who is almost certain to be the first Muslim woman in Congress
More women candidates than ever will contest US governorships and House seats in November's mid-term elections.
After Tuesday's primaries across four states, there are now 11 female nominees for governor and at least 173 so far for the House.
The results were hailed as a continuing success story by activists for women in politics.
There was also a key election for a House seat in Ohio, in which President Donald Trump claimed victory.
But US media said the race was still too close to call, in a safe Republican seat held by them since 1983. The outcome could indicate whether Democrats have a chance to overturn the Republican majority in the House in November.
First black female nominee for governor
US mid-terms: Can we tell now if Democrats will win?
A breakthrough for women
After polling closed in the four states holding primaries on Tuesday - Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Washington - it became clear women had broken records for gubernatorial and House nominations.
Victories for Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan) and Laura Kelly (Kansas) in Democratic primaries mean 11 women will contest governorships in November - one more than the previous 1994 record.
At least 173 female major party nominees will run for the House, beating the record of 167 from 2016.
It's official. With polls closed in KS, MI, MO, we've broken the record for women major party nominees for U.S. House in any year.
The previous record was 167. With 5 women candidates unopposed and one all-female primary, we've hit 168 tonight with possibly more to come. pic.twitter.com/KGwEm18AIq
— CAWP (@CAWP_RU) August 8, 2018
Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) said: "This has been an election season of records for women candidates, and tonight continues that story."
Ms Whitmer will in fact lead a four-strong, all-women ticket for the Democrats at state level in Michigan.
And one of the candidates for the House in the state is certain to become the first Muslim woman in Congress. Rashida Tlaib won a Democratic nomination and will not be opposed by the Republicans in November. She will also be the first Palestinian-American congresswoman.
Media captionThe "Pink Wave": How women are shaping the 2018 US elections
There will be two all-female races in Washington state. Democrat Lisa Brown faces Cathy McMorris Rodgers for a House seat, while Republican Susan Hutchison will take on incumbent Senator Maria Cantwell.
Democratic women could outnumber their white male colleagues in the House after November, a recent study suggested.
What has happened in Ohio?
Republican candidate Troy Balderson has been taking on Democrat Danny O'Connor for a seat in the House of Representatives. Ohio is one of the key battleground states in the mid-terms.
Mr Trump tweeted "Congratulations to Troy Balderson on a great win in Ohio. A very special and important race!"
Despite this, US news outlets have not called the contest yet. The New York Times gave Mr Balderson 50.2%, a lead of 1,754 votes in the 12th Congressional District race, with all precincts reporting. But thousands of absentee and provisional ballots are still outstanding, which could lead Mr O'Connor to force a recount. He said: "We're not stopping now."
A provisional ballot is used to record a vote when there are questions about a voter's eligibility. Absentee ballots are cast by those unable to attend polling stations.
Image caption
Donald Trump travelled to Ohio to support Troy Balderson
Democrat House representative Ben Ray Luján said the seat should have been a "slam dunk" for the Republicans and the closeness of the contest was an "ominous sign" for them in November.
Mr Trump won the 12th Congressional District in 2016 by more than 11 percentage points.
Mr Balderson and Mr O'Connor will have to fight the seat again in November.
Anything else from the primaries?
It appears Donald Trump has had success in getting the candidates he endorsed nominated.
The battle for the soul of the Democratic Party
Why US mid-term elections matter
They include John James, an African-American Republican, who won the Senate race nomination in Michigan, and key ally Bill Schuette, who will take on Ms Whitmer for governor in the same state.
Skip Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump
Congratulations to a future STAR of the Republican Party, future Senator John James. A big and bold victory tonight in the Great State of Michigan - the first of many. November can’t come fast enough!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 8, 2018
Report
End of Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump
The Kansas gubernatorial election has been rancorous for Republicans. The New York Times says it appears Mr Trump's pick, the hard-right Kris Kobach, may have upset incumbent Jeff Colyer but it's still too close to call.
Estes vs Estes
And one interesting sidebar: Ron Estes has beaten Ron Estes in a Kansas Republican primary.
The victorious incumbent congressman had to fund a campaign to spell out which candidate was which. The beaten candidate was Ron M Estes - his opponent said the M stood for misleading.
The beaten man's campaign was described by some analysts as "not serious".
The winning Ron Estes took about 80% of the vote and will face Democrat James Thompson, a supporter of Bernie Sanders in November.
What's up for election in November?
All 435 House seats, 35 of the 100 Senate seats and 36 of 50 governor races are to be fought.
Media captionWhy are US election campaigns never-ending? Ask America has the answer
The Democrats need to pick up 23 seats in the House to gain a majority.
With dozens of Republican lawmakers retiring this year, the minority party has a decent chance of taking over the House.
The place that tells you everything about US politics
In the Senate they need just two seats to take control. But the Republicans are tipped to retain their majority and perhaps even consolidate it.
A general opinion poll of voting intentions last Friday suggested Democrats were 6.1 percentage points ahead of Republicans.
8 August 2018
L-R Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, Republican Susan Hutchison and Democrat Rashida Tlaib, who is almost certain to be the first Muslim woman in Congress
More women candidates than ever will contest US governorships and House seats in November's mid-term elections.
After Tuesday's primaries across four states, there are now 11 female nominees for governor and at least 173 so far for the House.
The results were hailed as a continuing success story by activists for women in politics.
There was also a key election for a House seat in Ohio, in which President Donald Trump claimed victory.
But US media said the race was still too close to call, in a safe Republican seat held by them since 1983. The outcome could indicate whether Democrats have a chance to overturn the Republican majority in the House in November.
First black female nominee for governor
US mid-terms: Can we tell now if Democrats will win?
A breakthrough for women
After polling closed in the four states holding primaries on Tuesday - Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Washington - it became clear women had broken records for gubernatorial and House nominations.
Victories for Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan) and Laura Kelly (Kansas) in Democratic primaries mean 11 women will contest governorships in November - one more than the previous 1994 record.
At least 173 female major party nominees will run for the House, beating the record of 167 from 2016.
It's official. With polls closed in KS, MI, MO, we've broken the record for women major party nominees for U.S. House in any year.
The previous record was 167. With 5 women candidates unopposed and one all-female primary, we've hit 168 tonight with possibly more to come. pic.twitter.com/KGwEm18AIq
— CAWP (@CAWP_RU) August 8, 2018
Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) said: "This has been an election season of records for women candidates, and tonight continues that story."
Ms Whitmer will in fact lead a four-strong, all-women ticket for the Democrats at state level in Michigan.
And one of the candidates for the House in the state is certain to become the first Muslim woman in Congress. Rashida Tlaib won a Democratic nomination and will not be opposed by the Republicans in November. She will also be the first Palestinian-American congresswoman.
Media captionThe "Pink Wave": How women are shaping the 2018 US elections
There will be two all-female races in Washington state. Democrat Lisa Brown faces Cathy McMorris Rodgers for a House seat, while Republican Susan Hutchison will take on incumbent Senator Maria Cantwell.
Democratic women could outnumber their white male colleagues in the House after November, a recent study suggested.
What has happened in Ohio?
Republican candidate Troy Balderson has been taking on Democrat Danny O'Connor for a seat in the House of Representatives. Ohio is one of the key battleground states in the mid-terms.
Mr Trump tweeted "Congratulations to Troy Balderson on a great win in Ohio. A very special and important race!"
Despite this, US news outlets have not called the contest yet. The New York Times gave Mr Balderson 50.2%, a lead of 1,754 votes in the 12th Congressional District race, with all precincts reporting. But thousands of absentee and provisional ballots are still outstanding, which could lead Mr O'Connor to force a recount. He said: "We're not stopping now."
A provisional ballot is used to record a vote when there are questions about a voter's eligibility. Absentee ballots are cast by those unable to attend polling stations.
Image caption
Donald Trump travelled to Ohio to support Troy Balderson
Democrat House representative Ben Ray Luján said the seat should have been a "slam dunk" for the Republicans and the closeness of the contest was an "ominous sign" for them in November.
Mr Trump won the 12th Congressional District in 2016 by more than 11 percentage points.
Mr Balderson and Mr O'Connor will have to fight the seat again in November.
Anything else from the primaries?
It appears Donald Trump has had success in getting the candidates he endorsed nominated.
The battle for the soul of the Democratic Party
Why US mid-term elections matter
They include John James, an African-American Republican, who won the Senate race nomination in Michigan, and key ally Bill Schuette, who will take on Ms Whitmer for governor in the same state.
Skip Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump
Congratulations to a future STAR of the Republican Party, future Senator John James. A big and bold victory tonight in the Great State of Michigan - the first of many. November can’t come fast enough!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 8, 2018
Report
End of Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump
The Kansas gubernatorial election has been rancorous for Republicans. The New York Times says it appears Mr Trump's pick, the hard-right Kris Kobach, may have upset incumbent Jeff Colyer but it's still too close to call.
Estes vs Estes
And one interesting sidebar: Ron Estes has beaten Ron Estes in a Kansas Republican primary.
The victorious incumbent congressman had to fund a campaign to spell out which candidate was which. The beaten candidate was Ron M Estes - his opponent said the M stood for misleading.
The beaten man's campaign was described by some analysts as "not serious".
The winning Ron Estes took about 80% of the vote and will face Democrat James Thompson, a supporter of Bernie Sanders in November.
What's up for election in November?
All 435 House seats, 35 of the 100 Senate seats and 36 of 50 governor races are to be fought.
Media captionWhy are US election campaigns never-ending? Ask America has the answer
The Democrats need to pick up 23 seats in the House to gain a majority.
With dozens of Republican lawmakers retiring this year, the minority party has a decent chance of taking over the House.
The place that tells you everything about US politics
In the Senate they need just two seats to take control. But the Republicans are tipped to retain their majority and perhaps even consolidate it.
A general opinion poll of voting intentions last Friday suggested Democrats were 6.1 percentage points ahead of Republicans.
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