George W. Bush says 'there's pretty clear evidence' Russia meddled in 2016 US election - Fox News ( source : Associated Press )

8/2/2018RUSSIA INVESTIGATION just in

George W. Bush says 'there's pretty clear evidence' Russia meddled in 2016 US election

Associated Press

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Former President George W. Bush said on Thursday that "there's pretty clear evidence that the Russians meddled" in the 2016 American presidential election.

While never mentioning President Donald Trump by name, Bush appeared to be pushing back on Trump's decisions on immigration, as well as trying to have warmed relations with Russia.

"There's pretty clear evidence that the Russians meddled," Bush said at a talk in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. "Whether they affected the outcome is another question."

Bush also said that "it's problematic that a foreign nation is involved in our election system. Our democracy is only as good as people trust the results."

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded Russia meddled in the 2016 election to help Trump win. Numerous investigations are under way to determine whether Trump's campaign aided the Kremlin in its efforts.

Trump has repeatedly denied any "collusion" with Russia.

Speaking of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Bush called him "zero-sum."

"He's got a chip on his shoulder," Bush said of Putin. "The reason he does is because of the demise of the Soviet Union troubles him. Therefore, much of his moves (are) to regain Soviet hegemony."

Bush also stressed the need to back NATO and other alliances the U.S. has with the world.

Putin "is pushing, constantly pushing, probing weaknesses," the former president said. "That's why NATO is very important."

Bush also said that the United States needs to reform its immigration law.

Bush in 2008 became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the UAE. He spoke Thursday at a summit in Abu Dhabi put on by the Milken Institute, an economic think tank based in California.

He made his comments while in a conversation with Michael Milken, known as the king of high-risk "junk" bonds in the 1980s, pleaded guilty to securities-law violations in 1990 and served 22 months in prison. He agreed in a settlement with the SEC to a lifetime ban from the securities industry and paid a $200 million fine.

Milken, who is a prostate cancer survivor, and his family have given hundreds of millions of dollars away in recent decades. Forbes magazine estimates Milken, 71, is now worth some $3.6 billion.

Pelosi ends immigration speech after more than 8 hours, setting record - ABC News

Pelosi ends immigration speech after more than 8 hours, setting record

By JOHN PARKINSON STEPHANIE EBBS Feb 7, 2018, 8:20 PM ET

PHOTO: Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is shown reading from a bible during a marathon speech on the floor of the House of Representatives in this still grab taken from video on Capitol Hill, Feb. 7, 2018.

U.S. House TV/Handout via Reuters

WATCHNancy Pelosi ends record-breaking speech on House floor

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Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi set a record on the House floor Wednesday - speaking from morning until early evening on immigration and reading letters from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients for more than eight hours - in the longest continuous speech in the House since at least 1909

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Pelosi, who is 77, began speaking at 10:04 a.m. Wednesday to address the emerging bipartisan federal spending deal in the Senate, pointing to several “Democrat priorities” included in the deal but drawing the line over the lack of a solution for so-called Dreamers whose status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy is in jeopardy after March 5.

House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (C) on her way returns to her office after a long speech on immigration at the Capitol, Feb. 7, 2018.more +

She yielded the floor at 6:11 p.m., precisely eight hours and seven minutes after she began.

Pelosi announced she and a “large number” of House Democrats will oppose any deal unless Speaker Paul Ryan commits to a future open immigration debate, complaining House Democrats are second-class members of Congress without a commitment from Ryan.

After speaking for more than five hours, Pelosi was handed a note, saying it read "a vote will occur soon after I yield back."

"I have no intention of yielding back, Mr. Speaker," Pelosi said, referring to the presiding officer - apparently not House Speaker Paul Ryan - and then put down the note to continue reading.

Throughout the speech Pelosi took sips of water and an aide told ABC News she had nothing to eat. An aide also said she was wearing four-inch stilettos during the entire day-long speech. She did not stop speaking to use the bathroom or take any other breaks. House Democrats cycled in and out to sit behind her in the chamber with dozens of members seated around her at one point.

@heatherscope

As @NancyPelosi enters HOUR 9 of her filibuster, here’s a live shot of those much talked about heels:

10:03 AM - Feb 8, 2018

One Republican, Rep. Mark Walker, tweeted that he was less inclined to support the House deal the longer Pelosi spoke.

@RepMarkWalker

It is crucial our military is fully funded to protect our families and our future. Yet, the Budget Caps Deal is a struggle for any one with fiscal concerns. However, the longer @NancyPelosi bloviates on the House Floor against the deal - the more I’m inclined to support it.

7:18 AM - Feb 8, 2018

As minority leader, Pelosi can speak uninterrupted on the House floor. She read letters from Dreamers to members of Congress describing how the DACA policy helped them pursue their education or apply for jobs. Pelosi said she wanted their stories to be part of the Congressional Record.

“We want to be sure that the public record of the Congress of the United States forever more will reflect the stories of their great contribution to America in the hopes that those stories will move the Speaker of the House to give us a vote,” Pelosi said.

When asked if the president would like to see immigration added to the budget deal White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said immigration is a separate issue and Pelosi should support a budget deal.

"I think we've made clear that the budget deal should be a budget deal, and that members of Congress, like Nancy Pelosi, should not hold our military hostage over a separate issue. We've laid out what we would like to see in immigration legislation, and I think it's something that Nancy Pelosi should support," Sanders said in the briefing.

PHOTO: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., speaks to reporters after staging a marathon, daylong filibuster, on Capitol Hill, Feb. 7, 2018.Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., speaks to reporters after staging a marathon, daylong filibuster, on Capitol Hill, Feb. 7, 2018.more +

One of the letters Pelosi read was from Gladys Klamka from Phillipsburg, N.J. Klamka said her parents brought her to the United States from Mexico when she was two years old and that they would have put her up for adoption if they stayed in Mexico. When she was four years old, she wrote, she was sexually molested by a 16-year-old boy but her parents didn't report it because they were afraid of being deported. She applied for DACA status in 2012 and said she now works in health care.

"After election day I wondered if this dream would soon end, it's been a hard reality check that privileges could be taken away," Pelosi read from Klamka's letter.

Pelosi read another letter from Jirayut New Latthivongskorn who said his parents brought him to the U.S. from Thailand when he was nine years old. Pelosi said he worked 30 hours a week at his family's restaurant while he was in high school and still graduated with a 4.3 grade point average. He went to the University of California - Berkeley but had to deny a scholarship that would have covered most of his tuition because of his immigration status.

The DACA program was established in 2012 just a month after Latthivongskorn graduated from college with degrees in molecular and cellular biology, Pelosi said. In 2014 he began medical school at the University of California San Francisco where he volunteers at a homeless clinic and started a network for Dreamers pursuing jobs in health care. He was the school's first undocumented student and was included in Forbes magazine's 2017 "30 Under 30" list, according to the UCSF website.

"Will America be a stronger country if we deport him and others like him? Will we be a better country if we tear apart American families? Of course not we all agree on that," Pelosi said.

Referring to the sweeping Senate budget deal unveiled Wednesday, Pelosi boasted Democrats secured “hundreds of billions” of dollars for their legislative priorities by extracting a dollar-for-dollar deal on defense and non-defense spending.

But she demanded Ryan match Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s commitment to the Senate to open the upper chamber for free and clear debate on immigration.

“So why can’t we have some sort of commitment on this side?” Pelosi asked Wednesday.

Senate on verge of major spending deal ahead of possible government shutdown

Trump threatens another government shutdown over immigration

Ryan's spokeswoman AshLee Strong said the speaker does intend to address immigration reform.

“Speaker Ryan has already repeatedly stated we intend to do a DACA and immigration reform bill – one that the president supports,” Strong said in a statement.

Pelosi pointed to a bipartisan bill by Reps. Will Hurd, R-Texas, and Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., and said Ryan should start with that bill, “and any other bills he believes should be considered” through the Queen of the Hill process, where the measure with most votes becomes the prevailing bill to reconcile with what whatever immigration solution the Senate settles upon.

“Why should we be treated in such a humiliating way when the Republican Senate leader has given that opportunity in a bipartisan way to his membership?” Pelosi said. “Without that commitment from Speaker Ryan… this package does not have my support nor does it have the support of a large number of members of our caucus.”

“What are you afraid of?” Pelosi said of Ryan. “Give us a vote. Let the House work its will.”

PHOTO: Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House Floor this morning, Feb. 7, 2018, to address the emerging bipartisan caps deal in the Senate, pointing to several Democrat priorities but drawing the line over Dreamers.CSPAN/Twitter

Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House Floor this morning, Feb. 7, 2018, to address the emerging bipartisan caps deal in the Senate, pointing to several "Democrat priorities" but drawing the line over Dreamers.more +

House Democrats changed plans for their scheduled retreat in Cambridge, Md. this week to stay in D.C. and be on hand for the debate.

ABC News' Mary Bruce contributed to this report.

One region which voted overwhelmingly to leave the EU would suffer 16 per cent hit to economic growth in event of 'no deal' - Independent

8/2/2018

Brexit: Huge economic cost of leaving EU outlined in government study as May insists she has 'no doubts'

One region which voted overwhelmingly to leave the EU would suffer 16 per cent hit to economic growth in event of 'no deal'

Chris Baynes, Caroline Mortimer

North-east England, the West Midlands and Northern Ireland will suffer the biggest hit to economic growth after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, according to secret Brexit impact studies released to MPs by the Government.

London will see the least damage, according to the controversial forecasts which ministers were forced to release amid pressure from Labour and pro-EU Tories.

MPs have been reading the documents, prepared by Whitehall officials for the Department for Exiting the EU, under controlled conditions, but the figures have been leaked.

Lack of ‘credible Brexit plan’ risks ‘damaging muddle’, MPs warn

It has previously emerged that officials expect the UK as a whole to be worse off after Brexit regardless of the terms of its departure from the EU.

According to regional forecasts, every area of the UK will suffer a decline in GDP.

The North-east would take an 11 per cent hit to economic growth under the Government’s preferred outcome of a free trade deal with the EU, while leaving with no deal will result in a 16 per cent dip, and staying in the single market would cause a 3 per cent decline.

The north-east overwhelmingly voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum.

In the West Midlands, a free trade deal would result in an 8 per cent hit to growth, compared with 13 per cent under no deal, and 2.5 per cent if the UK stays in the single market.

Northern Ireland would suffer an 8 per cent dip in growth after a free trade deal, a 12 per cent dip in the event of “no deal”, and a 2.5 per cent fall in the single market.

By comparison, London would sustain just a 2 per cent hit to growth if the UK gets a free trade deal, 3.5 per cent in a no deal scenario, and just 1 per cent if the country stays in the single market.

The details of the economic damage Brexit could do to the UK came as Theresa May spoke at a lavish black-tie event about her "ambitious" vision for the UK outside the bloc.

At the Tory party's annual Black and White Ball in London, Ms May told the assembled donors, celebrities and politicians: "Ever since the British people delivered their vote in the referendum, I have had no doubts about what our new relationship with the EU must mean for the United Kingdom.

Brexit Britain at risk from food shortages after Brexit, Lords hear

"It will mean taking control of our money - so we are not sending vast annual subscriptions to the EU.

"It also means control of our borders - so we decide on our own immigration policy; one which attracts the brightest and the best to come to these shores, and one which also ensures we are investing in our own talent here at home.

"And it means control of our laws - so British courts are supreme and the European Court of Justice no longer overrules them."

She stressed her plan would mean leaving the single market and customs union but "constructing a completely new trading partnership with the EU".

Elsewhere in the secret report, it was revealed the UK retail sector – which is the country’s biggest private sector employer – could see its costs rise by 20 per cent after Brexit.

It also revealed the price of food and drink could rise by 16 per cent.

These costs are non-tariff barriers – meaning these are costs businesses will have to factor in before they pay any import or export taxes.

This means costs could potentially rise higher in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

The analysis said the potential no-deal Brexit could blow a £80bn hole in the public finances.

The papers suggest the government will need to borrow £120bn more over the next 15 years to make up the shortfall. When factoring in a £40bn in potential net gains from leaving the union – including £11bn in saved payments – this leaves a total cost of £80bn.

The Liberal Democrat's Brexit spokesman, Tom Brake, said: “This is a damning outlook for Britain. The Tories are putting everything on the line because they do not care about the lives and livelihoods of the people of the UK.

“The Government need to start being clear what they are fighting for. They are still keeping no deal on the table despite how crippling it would be to the regional economy.

“People did not vote to make themselves poorer. They should be allowed a vote on the final deal and a chance to exit from Brexit.”

Labour MP Stephen Doughty, a leading supporter of the Open Britain campaign for close ties with the EU, said: “It is utterly shameful that people all across this country are having to rely on leaks to find out how much damage a hard, destructive Brexit will do to their local economies and the country as a whole.

“The Government cannot continue to try and hide taxpayer-funded analysis from the public, just because they’re afraid of the political consequences. The full Brexit impact assessments, along with any other economic analysis of Brexit outcomes, must be published in full, now.

“And as people learn new facts about the costs of Brexit for their communities and their industries, everyone is entitled to keep an open mind about whether or not it’s the right path for the country.”

Earlier, Brussels released papers showing it wants to put in place a method to rapidly curtail the UK’s single market benefits if it breaches agreements on a transition deal.

But the Prime Minister insisted she would be “robust” in Brexit talks and dismissed “noises off” from the EU.

Asked during Prime Minister’s Questions if she would see off any “threats” from the EU, Ms May said: “We will be robust in our arguments.

“As I have said right from the very beginning we will hear noises off, we will hear all sorts of things being said about positions that are being taken.

“What matters is the positions we take in the negotiations as we sit down and negotiate the best deal. We’ve shown we can do that. We did it in December and we are going to do it again.”

Theresa May says the pessimistic analysis of post-Brexit trade is incomplete

Ministers in the European Union Exit and Trade (Strategy and Negotiations) Sub-committee considered the issues of immigration and Northern Ireland on Wednesday and are expected to discuss the crucial issue of the UK’s future relationship with Brussels on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has been asked to consider whether Britons living in the 27 other EU member states can retain their rights as EU citizens following Brexit after a case was brought by expats in the Netherlands.

A Government spokesman said of the regional impact studies: “This document does not represent Government policy and does not consider the outcome we are seeking in the negotiations.

“As ministers clearly set out in the House, this is provisional internal analysis, part of a broad ongoing programme of analysis, and further work is in progress.

“We are seeking an unprecedented, comprehensive and ambitious economic partnership – one that works for all parts of the UK. We are not expecting a no deal scenario.”

Hair-raising moment: gust of wind lifts lid on mystery of Donald Trump's mane - Guardian

Hair-raising moment: gust of wind lifts lid on mystery of Donald Trump's mane

Speculation has long swirled about exactly what is on top of the president’s head – the answer may be less than meets the eye

Adam Gabbatt in New York

@adamgabbatt

Thu 8 Feb 2018 04.59 AEDT Last modified on Thu 8 Feb 2018 17.15 AEDT

Donald Trump's hair blown apart by the wind – video

As Donald Trump wages war with Democrats over a budget deal, a video has emerged highlighting another battle – the fight the president’s hair is waging to stay attached to his head.

Trump sets out immigration plan in State of the Union address – as it happened

Footage, widely shared on Wednesday, showed Trump’s hair being dramatically swept about in a blustery wind, revealing what appeared to be a large hairless patch at the rear of his head and adding to longstanding speculation about the exact nature of Trump’s mane.

The film was captured as Trump boarded Air Force One. As Trump clambers up the stairs to the aircraft he appears to be struck from behind by a forceful gust. The wind cleaves his hair in two, revealing what appears to be a bare scalp.

Dr Alan Bauman, CEO and founder of Bauman Medical, a hair restoration clinic, said Trump had probably undergone some sort of hair procedure, although Bauman added that the video could have been doctored.

“In my professional opinion I do believe he has had some previous hair transplantation to the frontal part of his hairline,” Bauman said.

“He probably also has access to potent prescription topical medication like Formula 82M Minoxidil, which would be used twice daily, or a laser therapy cap, which could easily be hidden underneath a baseball hat.”

A laser therapy cap is a device that subjects the scalp to laser beams in an attempt to promote hair growth.

Bauman said he had met Trump personally and believed the president’s hair “is firmly growing from his scalp and is not a hairpiece”.

“He does, however, use quite a bit of hairspray to maintain his preferred style,” Bauman said.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for information.

Trump doctor reveals secret to US president's hair

Trump’s hair has long been the subject of speculation and ridicule. The Michael Wolff book Fire and Fury reported that Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump is among the hair’s critics.

Ivanka “often described the mechanics behind it to friends”, Wolff wrote.

“An absolutely clean pate – a contained island after scalp reduction surgery – surrounded by a furry circle of hair around the sides and front, from which all ends are drawn up to meet in the center then swept back and secured by a stiffening spray.”

Trump has occasionally addressed the issue himself. At a campaign rally in August 2015, shortly after Trump had denounced Mexican people seeking immigration to the US as “rapists”, he promised to put the issue of his hair to bed.

“If it rains, I’ll take off my hat, and I’ll prove once and for all that it’s mine,” Trump told a crowd in Alabama.

A month earlier the then candidate had promised to change his signature hairstyle if elected.

“I would probably comb my hair back. Why? Because this thing is too hard to comb,” Trump said at an event in Winterset, Iowa. “I wouldn’t have time, because if I were in the White House, I’d be working my ass off.”

The promises are among a number of campaign pledges that are yet to be fulfilled.

Donald Trump might be dreaming of a massive military parade in Washington, but Fox News has thrown up a better suggestion - Fox News

Fox News just threw serious shade at Donald Trump

Posted 7/2/2018

by Mimi Launder in news

UPVOTE

Donald Trump might be dreaming of a massive military parade in Washington, but Fox News has thrown up a better suggestion

The US President's grand plans to celebrate America's military was met with something of a lacklustre response from members of Congress and retired army chiefs.

Elaborate military parades are more commonly seen in authoritarian states that the US typically opposes, such as North Korea and China.

Retired soldier and CNN analyst Mark Hertling tweeted:

@MarkHertling

.@jaketapper I did the same on Twitter. Got some pretty “sporty” comments, many laced with profanity. It’s obvious: most military hate parades, most think this a really dumb idea. Not a scientific survey though. https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/961067910071574528 …

2:33 PM - Feb 7, 2018

On Wednesday, Trump's beloved Fox News joined in the ridicule with anchor Shepard Smith offering a smaller scale alternative.

He could go see the tanks at a military base if he wanted to.

Or they could give him replicas. Little mini replicas.

I mean, he wants to see what he has. I had some of those when I was a kid.

He added:

You can get the little plastic ones and lay them out on the table and say 'Here you go'.

Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin joined in, suggesting:

We could play Strategy and Risk.