Big Time News Blog: 12/17/19

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Protesters Clamor for President Trump’s Impeachment on Eve of House Vote

By BY NEIL VIGDOR from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2PxCCLg

No bond for ex-Mexico security official charged with bribery

A judge in Texas ordered Mexico's former top security official to remain held without bond Tuesday as he awaits trial for allegedly accepting a fortune in drug-money bribes for letting the notorious Sinaloa cartel operate with impunity. Genaro Garcia Luna, 51, was indicted on three counts of cocaine trafficking conspiracy and a false statements charge. Magistrate Judge David Horan ordered Garcia Luna held in Texas until marshals could transfer him to New York, where Sinaloa kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was tried in 2018.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2Puv5gi

Kellyanne Conway's husband and other Republicans launch a project dedicated to defeating Trump in 2020

The new anti-Trump organization, dubbed "the Lincoln Project," has reportedly already raised over $1 million.

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Biden saying he'd only serve one term would be an Election Day risk with little reward, new Insider poll shows

Former Vice President Joe Biden would seemingly risk losing much more than he'd gain from announcing his intention to serve one term.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2M5sZ4p

U.S. sanctions could hit pipeline building in Danish waters: Bild

Germany believes a new U.S. law imposing sanctions on companies building Russia's contested seabed Nord Stream 2 pipeline could affect ongoing construction works off the coast of Denmark, Bild newspaper said, citing a government document. According to an Economics Ministry document cited by Bild, Germany expected President Donald Trump to sign the bill into law by Friday at the latest, meaning the Dutch-Swiss company Allseas, currently laying the pipeline off the Danish island of Bornholm, could be hit. The United States opposes the pipeline, which will allow Russia to bypass intermediaries Poland and Ukraine to deliver gas straight to Germany, saying it will heighten Europe's dependency on the strategic rival to its east.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/35vLgzD

United Airlines flight grounded after flames burst from engine

A United Airlines flight originating in San Diego has been forced to make an emergency landing in New Mexico, after an engine malfunction caused flames to shoot out of an engine.The flight was on its way to Chicago when it was forced to make an emergency landing in Albuquerque, where it safely made it to the ground.

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Argentine gang held 'Welcome' signs as cover to target victims in airport

The Argentine crime gang that killed a British businessman held "Welcome" signs in the airport arrivals hall as cover to spot wealthy tourists, officials say, as four men have been arrested in connection with the shooting.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2rU9uVq

Why Giving Israel Spare American B-52 Bombers Is A Terrible Idea

A great way to drag America into conflict.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2RZI7nO

At noisy town hall, a vulnerable U.S. Democrat says 'yes' to impeaching Trump

Democratic Representative Elissa Slotkin, co-author of a column that helped launch the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump, ended months of uncertainty on Monday by telling voters at a noisy town hall meeting that she will vote for impeachment. The cheers - along with chants of "Impeach Slotkin, keep Trump!" - that greeted her decision underlined the wrenching partisan pressures that vulnerable Democrats in swing districts have faced ahead of this week's planned House vote on impeaching the Republican president. "To me, this is something that I cannot abide," Slotkin, a former CIA and Department of Defense official who captured a Republican-held seat in 2018, said of charges that Trump abused his power to pressure Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden and obstructed Congress' probe of the matter.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2rTXfrV

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch went on Fox News to promote his book — and to echo the 'war on Christmas' myth

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch is the latest victim in the war on Christmas.On Tuesday, Gorsuch appeared on Fox & Friends to promote his recent book — an odd move for a supposedly nonpartisan judge. President Trump's favorite show is known for its solidly conservative agenda, and Gorsuch quickly played into Fox & Friends' hands with the first two words he spoke.When Gorsuch was introduced Tuesday, he pointedly replied with a "Merry Christmas," to which host Ainsley Earhardt responded "I love that you say that." After all, Fox News has been fighting for the right to say that phrase for years as it's drowned out by "Happy Holidays." Gorsuch's choice words soon drew a few critics from the politically correct crowd, prompting Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a certified member of the Merry Christmas militia, to come to his defense.In an attempt to combat "Democrats" who are supposedly "smear[ing] him for wishing Americans a Merry Christmas," Tillis tweeted out a link to a card he's putting together for Gorsuch and his family.> I worked tirelessly to confirm Justice Gorsuch, and I’m not about to let Democrats smear him for wishing Americans a Merry Christmas. That’s why I’m putting together a Merry Christmas card to send to Justice Gorsuch and his family – will you add your name? https://t.co/DsPKgbJF0p https://t.co/kYeUEke7gb> > — Thom Tillis (@ThomTillis) December 17, 2019Clicking to Tillis' site reveals a digital Christmas greeting that's reminiscent of a young coder's first web design project. Visitors are welcome to send Gorsuch a Christmas greeting of their own — a system which will absolutely not be abused in any way.More stories from theweek.com Adam Driver reportedly walks out of NPR interview after not wanting to listen to himself in Marriage Story This enigmatic Star Wars prequel scene may be worth revisiting before The Rise of Skywalker Trump complains about inability to prosecute Schiff, says they 'handle things' differently in Guatemala

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Counterfactual: A Nazi Invasion of Britain? (Hitler Wins World War II?)

Learn the true story of Operation Sea Lion.

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Mayor: Schools official who called Jews 'brutes' should quit

A New Jersey mayor on Tuesday said a school board member should quit over comments she made about the shooting at a kosher market referring to Jews as “brutes” and questioning whether the attackers had a point to make in attacking Jews. A message seeking comment was left with Paige. Board of Education President Sudhan Thomas said in an emailed statement that Paige does not reflect the views of the board and doesn't speak for it.

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Impeachment Ad Wars

By BY NICK CORASANITI from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/35vNUVS

Larry Heinemann, Novelist of the Vietnam War, Dies at 75

By BY NEIL GENZLINGER from NYT Books https://ift.tt/2M0BYUv

Trump Letter, F.B.I., Bitcoin: Your Tuesday Evening Briefing

By BY VICTORIA SHANNON AND HIROKO MASUIKE from NYT Briefing https://ift.tt/2S5plLE

U.S. envoy for North Korea to visit China this week: State Department

The U.S. special envoy for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, will visit Beijing on Thursday and Friday, the U.S. State Department said on Tuesday, after China and Russia proposed lifting some U.N. sanctions on North Korea.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/34q3rFu

China says lifting some U.N. sanctions on North Korea could help break deadlock

China and Russia are pushing the U.N. Security Council to lift some sanctions on North Korea to ease the country's humanitarian concerns and to "break the deadlock" in stalled denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang, China's U.N. ambassador said on Tuesday.