Iran’s supreme leader blames US-Israeli plot for protests - Financial Times

9/1/2018

Iran’s supreme leader blames US-Israeli plot for protests

Cleric insinuates Saudi Arabia helped fund unrest over Islamic regime

Rouhani hits back at Iran hardliners

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: 'The plot was engineered by America and Zionists' © AFP

Najmeh Bozorgmehr in Tehran

Iran’s supreme leader on Tuesday accused the US, Israel and an Iranian opposition of plotting for months to orchestrate protests against the Islamic regime in which at least 21 people were killed.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was a prime target of the demonstrations, also insinuated that Saudi Arabia, Iran’s main regional rival, had helped fund the unrest. The protests began with complaints about rising living costs but quickly took on political slogans with calls for regime change and an end to rule by clerics.

“The plot was engineered by America and Zionists. For some months they have been planning to start the [protests] in small towns and then move towards the centre [Tehran],” Mr Khamenei said in a public speech. “The money belonged to the moneybags [Saudi Arabia] in the Persian Gulf . . . as the Americans are not ready to spend money as long as they exist.”

He said the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK), an exiled Iranian opposition group, was used as “pawns” to foment the protests. While the MEK is the Islamic republic’s most organised opposition movement, it is believed to have little support inside the country.

The US has dismissed suggestions it had any role in the unrest, which subsided towards the end of last week after hundreds of people were arrested. Saudi officials have not commented on the protests.

Mr Khamenei’s statement contrasted with remarks by President Hassan Rouhani, who on Monday acknowledged that disgruntlement among Iranians was fuelled by a “gap” between the youth and the country’s leaders.

Iran’s reformist politicians accuse regime hardliners of being behind the first rally on December 28 to undermine Mr Rouhani and his reform programme. That demonstration was followed by a wave of protests in dozens of towns and cities across the country.

Many demonstrators chanted “death to Khamenei” in the biggest public attacks against the supreme leader since he came to power 29 years ago.

He suffered further embarrassment on Monday when a video recorded in 1989 went viral that showed previously unseen footage of Mr Khamenei saying he was not religiously qualified to be supreme leader. The video was taken as Iran’s Experts Assembly, a top decision-making body, prepared to elect him to the post after the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

At the time, Mr Khamenei was under pressure from top politicians and clerics to accept the position and is seen in the video saying he felt sorry for a country that had no other choice but him. “I would be a ceremonial leader,” he complained.

But Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president and one of the pillars of the 1979 Islamic revolution, reassured him and those who opposed the choice that it was only a “temporary” decision “until the referendum”.

It is not clear if he was referring to the referendum on the Constitution in 1989 which gave the supreme leader an “absolute” authority.

5 Tips for Surviving Uncomfortable Conversations - TIME

5 Tips for Surviving Uncomfortable Conversations Posted: 08 Jan 2018 07:17 AM PST Every now and again, you might find yourself in an uncomfortable conversation. Sometimes it’s an important, unavoidable talk with a loved one. Other times, it might be a chat that wanders into an intense conversation quickly turning hostile rather than friendly. With most uncomfortable conversations, a few tips can help you survive the encounter without making the situation worse. Here’s advice from three behavior, conversation and etiquette experts that can help you get through serious talks. 1. Don’t go in thinking the worst “Typically people think it’s going to be really uncomfortable,” says Emma Levine, an assistant professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Levine notes that approaching a difficult conversation with a negative attitude can lead people to avoid an important discussion. “Usually we’re mispredicting how bad it’s going to be,” Levine adds. In addition to conversations often not being as bad as people sometimes think they will be, they can often be necessary. It can also help to think about the other person’s perspective and whether that person would like you to be honest and have that conversation, Levine suggests. 2. Avoid making “you” statements “The moment you use words like ‘you did or said this’ or ‘you are this,’ the person automatically becomes defensive. You can just describe the situation and how it affected the relationship without putting in the ‘you.’ When you put the ‘you’ in, it just makes people defensive because they are being associated with the behavior or situation,” says Ken Sereno, an associate professor of communication at the University of Southern California – Annenberg. Sereno said that describing how a situation or action made you feel can be more constructive. “The phrase ‘you need’ is one that triggers a lot of people to feel attacked, and it’s one we go to frequently,” adds Lizzie Post, etiquette expert and co-president of the Emily Post Institute. The language can often feel demanding, similar to telling people what they “should” do. Post notes that telling people what they should do may be important, but it can also avoid considering the reality of a situation. 3. Be open “You need to be able to empathize. You need to be able to see the issue from the other person’s point of view. We tend to think when we’re in uncomfortable situations that we know that we’re the good guy,” says Sereno. Sereno adds that showing “openness” by nodding or saying “uh huh” or “I hear you” while listening can show you’re interested in hearing the other person’s point of view. “When you show openness to the other person, it often lessens the severity of the other person’s point of view. Just by being open,” Sereno says. 4. Realize you’re probably not going to change someone’s beliefs With politics and other controversial topics, Post notes that it can be helpful to remember you’re unlikely to change someone’s belief system. “Usually when things get really heated it’s because we’re talking about people’s belief systems, the way they choose to lead their lives and the way they think on a regular basis, and it’s going to be very hard to change that. So the first thing I think of when I start to realize when I’m in one of those conversations is, ‘How important is it or how likely is it that I’m going to change their opinion,” Post says. Post adds that remembering you’re in a conversation and not a battle is a good way to frame the situation. “Choosing to listen but not agree is also perfectly fine.” 5. Know when to walk away from the discussion After a while you may realize that there’s no saving a conversation. Post notes that changing the conversation can sometimes be the best option. “You could go the route of, just listen to them and get their perspective and walk away from the conversation. Or you could shut down the conversation and move on to a different topic, and that’s totally appropriate too,” Post says. She suggests using language that acknowledges both sides likely will not agree and ask about their interests. If you’re not familiar with the person, Post adds that you can stick to “tier one” conversation topics, which include generic topics that will appeal to most people, such as weather, entertainment, sports, books or other hobbies.

Takata Adds 3.3 Million Air Bags to Massive Recall - TIME Business

Takata Adds 3.3 Million Air Bags to Massive Recall

Posted: 07 Jan 2018 07:02 AM PST

(DETROIT) — Japanese air bag maker Takata is recalling an additional 3.3 million faulty air bag inflators as it expands the largest automotive recall in U.S. history.
The latest recalls cover frontal air bags in certain 2009, 2010 and 2013 vehicles made Honda, Toyota, Audi, BMW, Daimler Vans, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Jaguar-Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Tesla. Automakers will provide specific models in paperwork that will be filed later this month with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Notices of the expanded recalls were posted Saturday on the agency’s website.
Takata uses the chemical ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion and fill air bags quickly in a crash. But the chemical can deteriorate when exposed to high humidity and temperatures and burn too fast, blowing apart a metal canister. That can hurl hot shrapnel into unsuspecting drivers and passengers.

At least 20 people have been killed worldwide and more than 180 injured.
The latest recalls are part of the largest series of automotive recalls in U.S. history, with 19 automakers having to recall up to 69 million inflators in 42 million vehicles. The problem brought a criminal conviction and fine against Takata and forced the Japanese company into bankruptcy protection.
The recalls, which are being managed by NHTSA, are being phased in over the next three years. Older models and those in states with high humidity and temperatures are getting priority.
Many automakers have been slow to replace the potentially deadly inflators. A report by an independent monitor said that as of Sept. 15, 2017, automakers have recalled 43.1 million inflators. Of those, only 18.5 million, or 43 percent, have been replaced even though Takata recalls began in 2001.
NHTSA has said the Takata recalls are unprecedented in size and complexity and have resulted in groundbreaking lessons that will help automakers reach their repair goals. The agency said it is monitoring the automakers’ progress and working to expand best practices to boost completion rates. The agency also has the authority to fine automakers that don’t make recall repairs in a timely manner.

The Kushner Family’s Company Is Being Investigated Over Use of a Controversial Visa Program - TIME

The Kushner Family’s Company Is Being Investigated Over Use of a Controversial Visa Program

Posted: 07 Jan 2018 09:00 AM PST

U.S. regulators and prosecutors have requested information from the real estate development business run by Jared Kushner’s family over a program that allows wealthy foreigners to obtain visas for investing in American projects, said two people with direct knowledge of the matter.
The Securities and Exchange Commission and prosecutors for New York’s Eastern District issued subpoenas to Kushner Cos. in May seeking details about its use of what’s known as the EB-5 program, according to the people, who asked not to be named because the requests weren’t public.
Jared Kushner is a senior adviser to President Donald Trump and is married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka, who’s also an assistant to the president. Kushner was chief executive officer of Kushner Cos. until he stepped down and divested some of his investments to family members when he joined the administration.

Christine Taylor, a Kushner Cos. spokeswoman, said in an emailed response that “as we said months ago, we are cooperating with all government requests for information about our past legal use of the EB5 program.” SEC spokeswoman Judith Burns didn’t immediately return an email seeking comment. John Marzulli, a spokesman for the Eastern District of New York, declined to comment.
It couldn’t be determined what the SEC is reviewing, and the agency hasn’t accused Kushner Cos. of any wrongdoing. The SEC subpoena was reported earlier Saturday by the Wall Street Journal, which also published a story in August on the subpoena issued by New York’s Eastern District.

EB-5 Program

Last year, Kushner’s sister, Nicole Meyer, touted her brother’s White House role as she urged Chinese investors to fund a New Jersey housing development through the EB-5 program.
EB-5 offers foreigners green cards — permanent residence — in exchange for investing $500,000 in certain U.S. businesses that create at least 10 jobs per investor.
While Kushner Cos. isn’t publicly traded, the SEC has oversight of the EB-5 program because the investments can be deemed securities transactions under federal laws. The agency has previously brought enforcement actions against developers that it accused of raising money through the program and then using the proceeds for personal use, instead of financing development projects.

Refugees are ‘Muslim invaders’ not running for their lives, says Hungarian PM Viktor Orban - Independent

Refugees are ‘Muslim invaders’ not running for their lives, says Hungarian PM Viktor Orban

'Multiculturalism is only an illusion,' leader claims

Harriet Agerholm @HarrietAgerholm

Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban gestures as he gives a press conference at the Hungarian parliament in Budapest on January 3, 2018 Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban gestures as he gives a press conference at the Hungarian parliament in Budapest on January 3, 2018

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called refugees “Muslim invaders” as he defended his country’s refusal to take part in the EU’s resettlement programme.

A regular critic of the European Union’s refugee policies, the leader of the centre-right Fidesz party has long-fought the bloc’s demand that his country accept almost 1,300 refugees

“We don’t see these people as Muslim refugees. We see them as Muslim invaders,” he told German tabloid Bild. “For example, to arrive from Syria in Hungary, you have to cross four countries, all of which are not as rich as Germany, but stable. So they are not running for their lives there already.”

Ethical tourism is much harder than it seems when it comes to refugees

He was referring to a major migration route though Europe, which sees refugees cross through Turkey, Greece, Macedonia and Serbia, before entering Hungarian territory.

Mr Orban added that a large influx of Muslims “inevitably leads to parallel societies”. He claimed Christian and Muslim communities “will never unite”.

“Multiculturalism is only an illusion," he said.

Asked whether it was fair for Hungary to refuse to accept any refugees, while Germany accepted hundreds of thousands, Mr Orban, who is facing pressure to toughen his stance on immigration still further ahead of elections in Hungary in April, said: “The difference is, you wanted the migrants, and we didn’t.”

He said there was a “double standard” in place, with Hungary unfairly criticised since the quota “wasn’t implemented in over 20 countries”.

Hungary and Poland are the only two countries who have not taken any refugee under the resettlement quota, according to the latest figures from the European Commission.

Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic only took between 12 and 16 refugees each.

Koreas agree military talks to defuse border tension - BBC News

9/1/2018

Koreas agree military talks to defuse border tension

North and South Korea had a warm meeting in the DMZ

North and South Korea have agreed to hold military talks to defuse border tension, after their first high-level meeting in two years.

The North will also send a delegation to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games taking place in South Korea in February.

Agreement was also reached to reinstate a military hotline suspended two years ago, the South's government said.

However, the North's delegation was negative on the subject of denuclearisation, the South added.

North v South: A history of sport, bombs and diplomacy

Who are North Korea's cheerleaders?

What happened at the talks?

After a day of negotiations, the two sides issued a joint statement which confirmed they had agreed to hold military talks on defusing military tension.

The North also agreed to send a National Olympic Committee delegation, athletes, cheerleaders, art performers, spectators, a taekwondo demonstration team and media to the games, while the South would provide the necessary amenities and facilities.

The statement also referred to exchanges in other, unspecified areas and other high-level talks to improve relations, the South's Yonhap news agency reports.

The Olympic Rings being placed at the Gyeongpodae beach, near the venue for the Speed Skating, Figure Skating and Ice Hockey ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on October 30, 2017 in Gangneung, South Korea.Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES

Image caption

North Korea first expressed interest in joining the Pyeonchang Games during the New Year

The South asked the North to end any hostile acts that might raise tension, while the North agreed there was a need to guarantee a peaceful environment on the peninsula, a statement from the South's government said.

Other details had been released throughout the day by officials from the South:

The South proposed that athletes from both Koreas march together at the opening ceremony in Pyeongchang as they did at the 2006 Winter Olympics

The South pushed for the reunion of family members separated by the Korean War - a highly emotional issue for both countries - to take place during the Lunar New Year holiday, which falls in the middle of the Games

The South said it would consider temporarily lifting relevant sanctions, in co-ordination with the UN, to facilitate the North's participation in the Olympics

The North's reaction to these proposals is not known.

In his opening remarks, the head of the North Korean delegation, Ri Son-gwon, was fairly neutral. He said he hoped the talks would bring a "good gift" for the new year and that the North had a "serious and sincere stance".

Where are the talks and how did they come about?

They were held in the Panmunjom "peace village" in the demilitarised zone (DMZ) at the border.

Five senior officials on each side attended and the leaders of both were said to have watched the talks via a CCTV feed.

Tensions are high between the two warring countries

In his New Year address, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had said he was considering sending a team to the Olympics. South Korea's Olympics chief had said last year that the North's athletes would be welcome.

Following Mr Kim's overture, the South then proposed high-level talks to discuss the North's participation, but the North only agreed to the talks after the US and South Korea agreed to delay their joint military exercises until after the Olympics. The North sees the annual drills as a rehearsal for war.

Some critics in the US see the North's move as an attempt to divide the US-South Korea alliance.

Dramatic change

Analysis: BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Seoul

A little over a week ago North Korea was threatening nuclear war - this morning a delegation from Pyongyang strode across the demarcation line that divides North and South Korea and agreed a North Korean delegation would attend the Pyeongchang Games.

It is a sudden and dramatic change after months of tension but few in the South believe any of this demonstrates a fundamental shift in Pyongyang's position.

Experts say North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un has become increasingly fearful that the US is planning a military strike against him, and has decided he must do something to de-escalate tensions.

South Korea's President Moon Jae-in has been put in the delicate position of trying to engage the North in genuine dialogue, while not upsetting his very sceptical American ally.

Korea talks: Finally, a bit of optimism

North Korea opens new ski resort

When were the last talks?

Back in 2015.

Relations then broke down after Seoul suspended a joint economic project at the Kaesong Industrial complex in North Korea following a rocket launch and nuclear test by the North.

The incident led to North Korea ending all communication with Seoul, including cutting off the military hotline.

Life in a South Korean border town

Tensions have risen in the years since.

What we know of the Koreas' red and green phones

How bad have things become?

The North's development of its nuclear programme has continued unabated and has created a huge diplomatic conflict with the US administration of President Donald Trump.

Mr Trump and Kim Jong-un have conducted a personal feud, with the US leader dubbing Mr Kim "Rocket Man" and boasting that his nuclear button is "much bigger".

North Korea's regular missile tests have brought a tightening of UN and US sanctions.

The latest test of a ballistic missile on 28 November sparked another raft of measures from the UN, targeting petrol shipments and travel for North Koreans, among other things.

The Trump-Russia saga in 200 words - BBC News

The Trump-Russia saga in 200 words

3 December 2017

It's the story that has dominated Donald Trump's presidency, but it's complicated.

In summary

US intelligence agencies believe Russia tried to sway the election in favour of Mr Trump and a special counsel is looking into whether anyone from his campaign colluded in the effort.

Any evidence?

Senior members of Mr Trump's team met Russian officials. Several of these meetings were not initially disclosed.

What meetings?

Ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn lied to the FBI about meeting the Russian ambassador to the US before Mr Trump took office. Mr Flynn has entered a plea deal, prompting speculation that he has incriminating evidence.

The president's son, Donald Jr, met a Russian lawyer during the campaign who had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton, and adviser George Papadopoulos has admitted lying to the FBI about meetings with alleged go-betweens for Russia.

Who else is involved?

The president's son-in-law Jared Kushner is also under scrutiny, and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has been charged by investigators with money laundering, unrelated to the election.

And the president?

Since he fired the man leading one of the investigations, ex-FBI Director James Comey, there are questions whether the president has obstructed justice. Legal experts differ on this.

Why Republicans who criticised him are still with him ? - NBC News

Republicans who blasted Trump are still standing by him. Here’s why.
by CHUCK TODD, MARK MURRAY and CARRIE DANN
WASHINGTON — Over the past year, we’ve witnessed prominent Republicans — who’ve been critical of President Trump and his volatile behavior — still stand behind the president or his policies.
Retiring Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who denounced Trump on the Senate floor back in October ("When the next generation asks us: 'Why didn't you do something? Why didn't you speak up?' What are we going to say?"), has consistently voted for Trump’s policies and nominees.
Retiring Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. – who also blasted Trump last fall ("His governing model is to divide and to attempt to bully and to use untruths”) — still voted for Trump’s tax legislation.
And Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who said Trump was “crazy,” “unifit” and “a kook” during the 2016 GOP presidential primaries, has emerged as a key Trump ally.
On “Meet the Press” yesterday, Graham explained why he still sticks up for Trump: 1) because Trump is president, and 2) because Trump can help him with his policy goals.
CHUCK TODD: I've got to ask you something. The president sort of joked with you the other day and he said, "Boy, Lindsey used to be a great enemy of mine, and now he's a great friend of mine." What's changed? A lot of, a lot of your friends have been asking me that, going, "Hey, ask the senator why he's suddenly cozying up to President Trump." What would you say to them?
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Because he's president of the United States, he's going to make a decision about immigration, I've been working on for a decade. He's president of the United States, going to make a decision about North Korea, which is one of the biggest threats to the world at large. He's going to decide whether or not to stay in the Iranian agreement. I've enjoyed his company. He beat me like a dog. I've said everything I know to say about him. I, I used every adjective on the planet. I lost, he won. And I feel an obligation to help him where I can. I've enjoyed working with him. I don't think he's crazy. I think he's had a very successful 2017. And I want to help him where I can. And we should all want him to be successful. He's got a lot on his plate.
In other words, if Graham still denounced as a “kook” and “unfit,” he’d be unable to influence the president on immigration and North Korea. And Graham sees it as an obligation to help Trump succeed.
Bottom line: The congressional GOP’s relationship with Trump isn’t going to change until people back up their words with action. And everything we have learned about the Trump presidency over the past week — the “Fire and Fury” book, Trump’s relatively empty schedule, his reaction to questions about his stability — is troubling. And remember, the job hasn’t really gotten hard yet; there has been no international crisis in Year One.
Lindsey Graham on the Russia probe: “Bob Mueller is doing a great job”
Also in his interview on “Meet the Press” yesterday, Graham said he stood behind special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe. “All I can say is that it's not a hoax. The Russians stole the emails. They did interfere in our elections. We now know that Trump Junior met with the Russians in Trump Tower and that Bob Mueller is doing a great job. He's the right guy at the right time. He needs to be allowed to do his job.”
But he also said there needs to be a second special counsel to investigate potential wrongdoing at the Justice Department and FBI. “There's a bunch of stuff about the Department of Justice, how they conducted themselves, that need to be looked at just as much as Trump needs to be looked at.”
“A very stable genius”
Additionally on “Meet” yesterday, the author of the new “Fire and Fury” book on the Trump White House said that concern of Trump’s stability has become so great that the 25th Amendment has become a frequent topic inside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Michael Wolff “said White House staffers he talked to would say things like ‘we're not at a 25th Amendment level yet.’ Others, he said, called Trump's behaviors ‘a little 25th Amendment,’” per NBC’s Kailani Koenig. The 25th Amendment would allow the president’s cabinet to remove him from office.
Responding to those kinds of allegations, Trump took to Twitter over the weekend. “Actually, throughout my life, my two greatest assets have been mental stability and being, like, really smart,” adding: “I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star to President of the United States (on my first try). I think that would qualify as not smart, but genius....and a very stable genius at that!"
Trump also said this at Camp David Saturday: “I went to the best colleges for college. I went to a — I had a situation where I was a very excellent student. Came out and made billions and billions of dollars. Became one of the top businesspeople.”
 Wolff: 25th Amendment is discussed in the White House every day 1:56
Bannon’s non-apology apology
On Sunday, according to NBC’s Hallie Jackson, Kelly O’Donnell and Kristen Welker, Steve Bannon released a statement backtracking from calling that June 2016 Trump Tower meeting between Donald Trump Jr./Paul Manafort/Jared Kushner and the Russians as “treasonous” and “unpatriotic.” But it wasn’t a full backtrack. Here’s the statement:
Donald Trump, Jr. is both a patriot and a good man. He has been relentless in his advocacy for his father and the agenda that has helped turn our country around.
My support is also unwavering for the president and his agenda — as I have shown daily in my national radio broadcasts, on the pages of Breitbart News and in speeches and appearances from Tokyo and Hong Kong to Arizona and Alabama…
My comments about the meeting with Russian nationals came from my life experiences as a Naval officer stationed aboard a destroyer whose main mission was to hunt Soviet submarines to my time at the Pentagon during the Reagan years, when our focus was the defeat of 'the evil empire,’ and to making films about Reagan's war against the Soviets and Hillary Clinton's involvement in selling uranium to them.
My comments were aimed at Paul Manafort, a seasoned campaign professional with experience and knowledge of how the Russians operate. He should have known they are duplicitous, cunning and not our friends. To reiterate, those comments were not aimed at Don Jr.
Everything I have to say about the ridiculous nature of the Russian 'collusion' investigation I said on my 60 Minutes interview. There was no collusion and the investigation is a witch hunt.
I regret that my delay in responding to the inaccurate reporting regarding Don Jr. has diverted attention from the president's historical accomplishments in the first year of his presidency.
As NBC’s Jonathan Allen decodes the statement, Bannon doesn’t deny he said the meeting was treasonous and unpatriotic; he admits he can’t afford to alienate Donald Trump Jr.; he stresses that the Russians are a potential threat; and he doesn’t mention Jared Kushner AT ALL.
For relaxing times, make it Executive Time
In First Read last Friday, we observed how Trump didn’t hold a single public event in first workweek back from the Christmas/New Year’s holiday. And yesterday, Axios’ Jonathan Swan reported on Trump’s shrinking schedule.
“President Trump is starting his official day much later than he did in the early days of his presidency, often around 11am, and holding far fewer meetings, according to copies of his private schedule shown to Axios,” Swan writes. “This is largely to meet Trump’s demands for more ‘Executive Time,’ which almost always means TV and Twitter time alone in the residence, officials tell us.”
By the way, here’s Trump’s schedule today: He speaks at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention in Nashville, Tenn., at 4:10 pm ET, and then he attends the NCAA national championship football game in Atlanta.
Talks are underway about Trump’s interview with Mueller
NBC’s Kristen Welker, Carol Lee, Julia Ainsley and Hallie Jackson: “Anticipating that Special Counsel Robert Mueller will ask to interview President Donald Trump, the president’s legal team is discussing a range of potential options for the format, including written responses to questions in lieu of a formal sit-down, according to three people familiar with the matter."
More: “Trump’s legal team is seeking clarification on whether the president would be interviewed directly by Mueller, as well as the legal standard for when a president can be interviewed, the location of a possible interview, the topics and the duration. But the president’s team is also seeking potential compromises that could avoid an interview altogether, two of those interviewed told NBC News.”

It Appears Stephen Miller’s CNN Meltdown Wasn’t Just for Show - Intelligencer ( New York Magazine )

8/1/2018

It Appears Stephen Miller’s CNN Meltdown Wasn’t Just for Show

By

Margaret Hartmann

@MargHartmann

Yelling at journalists will definitely convince people that the book is fake news. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Apparently concerned that his tweets proclaiming himself to be a “very stable genius” did not convince the American people of this fact, on Sunday President Trump dispatched senior White House adviser Stephen Miller to repeatedly shout this point on CNN. At several points during the deeply bizarre interview, Jake Tapper accused Miller of hamming it up to please Trump, who was presumably tuning in to his least favorite TV network.

“There’s one viewer you care about right now, and you’re being obsequious, you’re being a factotum in order to please him,” Tapper said, ending the interview as Miller tried to shout over him. “I’ve wasted enough of my viewers’ time.”

Trump seemed to confirm Tapper’s theory by quickly tweeting his praise for Miller, but perhaps the performance wasn’t solely for the president’s benefit. According to Business Insider, Miller remained so agitated that eventually CNN had him escorted out of the studio:

White House adviser Stephen Miller was escorted off the set of CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday after a contentious interview with host Jake Tapper.

Two sources close to the situation told Business Insider that after the taping was done, Miller was asked to leave several times.

He ignored those requests and ultimately security was called and he was escorted out, the sources said.

Arden Farhi, a producer with CBS News, backed up this report.

@ArdenFarhi

A source at @CNN re the Stephen Miller interview with @jaketapper on @CNNSotu:

“The segment was over and Mr. Miller was politely asked to leave the set multiple times—after refusing to leave, he was escorted out by security.”

2:22 PM - Jan 8, 2018

As Tapper alluded to in the interview, Miller was once seen as Steve Bannon’s ally in promoting a nationalist agenda, but as the White House strategist’s star fell, he aligned himself with Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. According to the Washington Post, in the fallout from the publication of Michael Wolff’s Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, White House aides have made it clear that all Trump allies must pick a side: the president’s, or Bannon’s.

Bannon issued an apology over the weekend, but it did nothing to improve the situation. Trump’s friend and Newsmax chief executive Christopher Ruddy dismissed the mea culpa, saying it had “nothing to do with repairing the relationship with Trump,” and everything to do with “repairing his relationship with Trump supporters who read Breitbart and big donors he depends on” (primarily, the Mercer family).

The Post reported that Bannon knows his political future looks grim:

He has tried to convince allies in recent days that all will be fine — even texting one “onward!” — but he seems jolted and “even more manic than normal,” in the words of one person who spoke to him. He has remained ensconced in his Capitol Hill townhouse, with a rope on the steps blocking people from approaching. “STOP!” a large red sign reads, urging visitors to check in downstairs.

“He knows he is at his lowest point,” said one associate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. “He won’t tell you that, but he knows it.”

But one Bannon ally told Politico that there’s a silver lining: “You’ll see a more serious Bannon come out of this.”

Finally, we may see a more serious side of the guy portrayed as the grim reaper on Saturday Night Live.