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Trump Backs Grassley Immigration Bill

President Donald Trump on Wednesday officially backed an immigration reform proposal put forward by a number of Senate immigration hawks, including Sen. Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa), which is designed to mirror the immigration priorities the White House issued last month.

The bill from Grassley and his colleagues, the Secure and Succeed Act of 2018, was announced late Sunday. The bill largely implements the White House’s four-pillar immigration proposal: A path to citizenship for 1.8 million illegal immigrants, including the 800,000 beneficiaries of DACA; $25 billion for border security, including a wall; an end to the diversity visa lottery; and a phasing out of extended-family chain migration.

"I am asking all senators, in both parties, to support the Grassley bill and to oppose any legislation that fails to fulfill these four pillars – that includes opposing any short-term ‘Band-Aid’ approach," Trump said. "The overwhelming majority of American voters support a plan that fulfills the Framework’s four pillars, which move us towards the safe, modern, and lawful immigration system our people deserve."

Trump’s claim that a majority of American voters support his plan is supported by a recent Harvard-Harris poll, which found that majorities of voters support its composite four pillars, 65 percent to 35 percent, including 68 percent of Hispanics, 64 percent of Democrats, and 63 percent of liberals.

Trump also cheered legislation introduced by Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R., Va.) and Michael McCaul (R., Texas) in the House that would similarly implement the White House’s plan.

"At the same time, I remain encouraged by developments in the House toward advancing legislation from Chairmen Goodlatte and McCaul that also enshrines our four pillars," Trump said.

Trump is not the first high-profile Republican to back the SSA — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), after remaining mum on which of the several proposals currently floated in the Senate he preferred, publicly backed the proposal on Monday.

"The Secure and Succeed Act is our best chance of producing a solution that can actually resolve the immigration issue. We need a bill that can pass the #Senate and pass the House and earn @POTUS’ signature," McConnell tweeted.

The SSA’s current sponsors are exclusively Republicans, and bipartisan alternatives have not earned the same support. Trump slammed a proposal from Sens. John McCain (R., Ariz.) and Chris Coons (D., Del.) that would exchange amnesty for more illegal immigrants than the SSA’s 1.8 million for increased border security, but would not include a wall nor end the diversity visa lottery and chain migration. A press release from the Department of Homeland Security attacked the McCain-Coons bill Wednesday, calling it a "mass legalization" bill and insisting that it fails to secure the border and "surges chain migration."

Still, it remains unclear what, if any, immigration proposal could actually pass the Senate floor, or make it through the House and to the President’s desk for signature. A bipartisan working group, led by Sen. Susan Collins (R., Maine), claimed Wednesday to have produced a "two-pillar" solution which would, like the McCain-Coons bill, trade amnesty for enhanced border security. But Trump’s statement of opposition to any "Band-Aid" approach suggests that, even if that bill can make it through Congress, it may be subject to a presidential veto.

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Job Cuts Coming to CNN as Network Brand Turns Into Toxic Sludge

Despite the total commitment by network officials and employees to tie their entire brand to taking down President Trump, CNN’s risky strategy is beginning to look like a big loser.

Not only did a recent poll identify CNN as having the most toxic and polarizing name in the “news” business but now according to reports, the self-proclaimed “most trusted name in news” is going into layoff mode.

In a coming move to slice costs, CNN will be dumping a least fifty employees after failing to meet revenue projections. Gee, I wonder why.

The news comes via a Vanity Fair report that cites “people familiar with the matter” in a delightful and ironic twist of the knife into the network that routinely uses anonymous sources to push fake news.

Via The Hill “CNN set for layoffs: report”:

CNN, which just one year ago was touting an ambitious digital strategy, is planning to lay off as many as 50 people, Vanity Fair reported on Monday.

The layoffs are expected to come this week and will hit CNN staff around the world who work on digital businesses such as CNN Money, video, product, tech and social publishing, the magazine reported. The exact number of layoffs is still not clear.

According to Vanity Fair’s reporting, CNN will curtail some high-profile digital initiatives such as their virtual reality and Snapchat production efforts. The team that produces digital extensions for some of the network’s documentary-style shows is reportedly going to be reorganized.

Vanity Fair fleshes out some of the additional details:

But despite the so-called Trump Bump, CNN appears to be re-thinking at least some elements of its digital strategy. I’ve learned that CNN, a key property in AT&T’s planned takeover of CNN’s parent company, Time Warner, is targeting big savings on the digital side, with as many as 50 jobs around the globe scheduled to be eliminated this week, according to people familiar with the matter, who noted the exact number could still be in flux. The cuts will affect employees who work in premium businesses including CNN Money, video, product, tech and social publishing, these people said. Several high profile digital initiatives are being scaled back, including CNN’s virtual reality productions and its efforts on Snapchat, where CNN recently nixed a live daily webcast after just four months.

AND

The looming cuts may not be altogether Earth-shattering for an institution with thousands of employees around the world and $1 billion in annual profits. But one imagines they will at least further rattle nerves within a company already beset by a fair amount of uncertainty, which largely centers around how long Zucker will remain after AT&T’s $85 billion acquisition of Time Warner, assuming the Department of Justice doesn’t succeed in its efforts to scuttle the deal. A trial to adjudicate that matter is set to kick off on March 19 in Washington, D.C.

The truth? You can just never watch this one too many times!

HE BROKE THEM!

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RNC Trolls Dem Candidates with Crumb Cakes for Valentine’s Day

Republicans across the country used Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to taunt Democrats up for election in 2018 with crumb cakes and break-up letters.

The crumb cakes, a reference to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s continued description of bonuses and tax cuts as "crumbs," were delivered by Republican National Committee staffers in Nevada, Florida, Virginia, and Indiana—all states expected to Senate battleground states this year.

In Nevada, two boxes filled with crumb cakes were delivered to the office of Rep. Jacky Rosen (D.), who is running for Senate. The boxes were also filled with letters containing messages such as, "We’re done. It’s not us—it’s you."

Republicans also delivered crumb cakes were also delivered in Virginia to Sen. Tim Kaine (D.), in Florida to Sen. Bill Nelson (D.), and in
Indiana to Sen. Joe Donnelly (D.).

"Since Democrats from all over have compared bonuses and raises from companies across the Commonwealth to crumbs, we’d like to set the
record straight," said John Whitbeck, the Republican Party of Virginia’s chairman. "Hopefully the crumb cake we’re sending him today will help them realize the difference between crumbs and the real, tangible benefits of tax cuts for Virginia workers."

The crumb cakes delivered to Donnelly’s office were accompanied by a Valentine’s Day card and a list of companies that have given workers raises or bonuses in reaction to the Republican tax reform legislation.

Only Nelson’s office rejected the Valentine’s Day gift basket, citing ethics laws against receiving gifts. The Republican Party of Florida says the cakes cost less than $50, and therefore were not in violation of any ethics rules.

"The bigger patchecks and bonuses hard working Floridians are seeing because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are not ‘crumbs’ as you and your liberal buddies such as Nancy Pelosi assert," wrote a note attached to the rejected cake. "Please accept this crumb cake made by a Florida company whose employees benefitted from tax cuts to remind you hat real crumbs look like."

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It Begins: CNN Analyst Demands ‘Discussion About Guns’ With Scant Details on FL Shooting

<p>Here we go again, America. Another act of evil committed at a school and another case of liberals immediately demanding discussions of gun control. Moments into CNN’s live coverage, former Obama administration official and national security analyst Juliette Kayyem and host Brooke Baldwin demanded a “discussion about guns” despite having minimal details about what transpired.</p>

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Top ICE lawyer in Seattle charged with stealing immigrants’ identities

Officials charged a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lawyer in Seattle with stealing immigrants’ identities, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Chief counsel Raphael A. Sanchez was charged with one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of wire fraud, according to the charging document filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

Sanchez resigned Monday.

What’s the story?

Prosecutors accused Sanchez of stealing the identities of seven immigrants who were “in various stages of immigration proceedings” to defraud credit card companies, including American Express, Citibank, and Bank of America.

The document, called an information, has few details, but the alleged offenses date back to October 2013.

One example listed in the document stated that Sanchez sent an email from his government account to his personal Yahoo account on April 18, 2016.

The email contained a Puget Sound Energy bill addressed to R.H., along with the image of a Chinese national’s U.S. permanent resident card and the biographical page of a passport.

What else?

An information usually means the defendant has waived an indictment by a grand jury and intends to work on a plea agreement.

Sanchez is scheduled to enter a plea in court on Thursday.

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‘CRUMBS Act’: GOP congressman expertly trolls Nancy Pelosi with new bill to make bonuses tax-free

A Republican lawmaker took a not-so-subtle jab at House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Tuesday when he announced intentions to unveil a bill mocking the most-senior House Democrat’s comments about the GOP tax reform bill.

Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.) plans to unveil the “Creating Relief and Useful Middle-Class Benefits and Savings” Act — or “CRUMBS Act” — according to Roll Call.

The bill’s name mocks Pelosi’s infamous “crumbs” comments. On several occasions, the California Democrat has denounced bonuses and raises directly related to the GOP’s tax reform bill as “crumbs.” In reality, the “crumbs” are $1,000 to $2,000 bonuses for employees at hundreds of American corporations.

What will the CRUMBS Act do?

The bill would make bonuses up to $2,500 received in 2018 tax-free.

“Americans are receiving thousands of dollars in bonuses and more money in their paychecks thanks to President [Donald] Trump’s tax reform, but out-of-touch Democratic leaders believe they only amount to crumbs,” Rokita said in a statement, according to Fox News.

“The CRUMBS Act will let Americans keep more of the money they receive as a result of President Trump’s tax reform, and allow them, not the government, to choose how best to spend their bonuses,” he explained.

According to Americans for Tax Reform, 346 companies have announced tax reform bonuses, raises, or 401(k) hikes since Trump signed the tax reform bill in December.

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Donald Trump Donates 4Q Salary to Department of Transportation

Donald Trump Donates 4Q Salary to Department of Transportation

by Charlie Spiering13 Feb 20180



President Donald Trump donated his fourth-quarter 2017 paycheck to the Department of Transportation, demonstrating his commitment to public infrastructure.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders presented the $100,000 check to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao at the daily press briefing on Tuesday.

Chao said that Donald Trump’s quarterly salary would go to the department’s INFRA (Infrastructure For Rebuilding America) Grant Programs.

“Infrastructure is the backbone of our economy, and it’s key to keeping our country competitive,” she said.

Chao and two transportation officials posed for a picture with the check.

Trump donated his quarterly salary to different institutions within the federal government, keeping his campaign promise to serve as president without a paycheck.

Previously he donated his paycheck to Department of Education, the National Park Service, and the Department of Health and Human Services combat to help fight the opioid epidemic.

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Bizarre: ABC Links Florida Shooting to Trump in ‘Turmoil’ Over Rob Porter Scandal

During live coverage of a school shooting in Broward County, Florida, ABC reporter Cecilia Vega on Wednesday couldn’t resist taking a bizarre and totally unconnected shot at Donald Trump. After explaining that the President has been updated on the breaking news, Vega blurted, “We are expecting a briefing in the hour from Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. And of course, as you know, George, this very tragic incident comes as this White House is in turmoil right now over this with this Rob Porter scandal.” 

What a non sequitur. She added, “So they’ve got a lot on their plate here today.” After the mass shooting in Las Vegas last year, Vega singled out the NRA and Republicans in Congress as possible villains. 

 

 

A transcript of the brief exchange is below: 

ABC News live coverage
2/14/18
3:25

CECILIA VEGA: Just a few minutes ago, we did hear from White House Deputy Press Secretary Lindsay Walters who told us that President Trump has been briefed on this shooting in Florida. We’re told that the White House is actively monitoring the situation and of course, they extend their thoughts and prayers to those who are affected. Strangely enough this is the second alert that this White House has had to send out today. The second time the President briefed on a shooting, of course earlier, that incident at Fort Meade and they sent out a very statement about that. We are expecting a briefing in the hour from Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. And of course, as you know, George, this very tragic incident comes as this White House is in turmoil right now over this with this Rob Porter scandal. So they’ve got a lot on their plate here today. 

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: They have a lot going on there today. 

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NYC blaming cab driver suicides on Uber

There have been a series of three tragic deaths in New York City recently with two disturbing things in common. All of them were suicides and all three of the deceased were cab drivers. The most recent one was obviously planned by the deceased as a shocking public statement since prior to taking his own life, Douglas Schifter posted a lengthy suicide note blaming Mayor Bill de Blasio, Governor Andrew Cuomo, former Governor Mike Bloomberg and, of course, Uber for his financial woes.

So what’s a mayor to do when faced with such an upsetting situation? He’s going to take another run at regulating Uber out of business in the city and handing all the business back to the cab companies. (New York Post)

Mayor de Blasio said Friday that his administration is working on new rules for regulating Uber and other for-hire vehicles — four days after a car service driver committed suicide in front of City Hall and blamed him and other politicians for not doing enough to protect his livelihood.

Speaking on WNYC radio, Hizzoner said issues like disability access and a surcharge to help fund the MTA needed to apply to all types of car services across the board.

“We have to find better ways to regulate the for-hire vehicle sector in general,” he said. “We have to come back and look at what is a single, comprehensive vision for the future of our for-hire vehicle sector that can make sense to everyone involved. That’s something we’re going to be working on in the coming months to see if we can put together.”

One of the drivers wrote his suicide note on the back of a summons he received for violating regulations about how and when drivers can pick up riders. More than anything else, though, the drivers had been facing similar financial distress because of competition from ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft.

But is that any excuse for suddenly trying to bring up the same failed regulatory moves which the city failed to pass before? Even the mayor admitted during a radio interview that there had to be “something else going on” with these men before they took their lives. That “something else” was mental illness.

I’m not trying to be insensitive to the families of these deceased drivers, but plenty of people face financial hardships due to changing employment situations and don’t resort to taking their own lives. As the foodservice industry moves toward more automation, low-income workers are losing their jobs. The introduction of modern assembly lines and welding robots put a lot of auto industry workers out on the streets. This is a story that goes all the way back to the eras of the original Luddites. The reality is that their industry remains stuck in an old model of business and keeps hoping that the government will bail them out by crushing the new competition.

The fact is that ride-sharing offers far better service than the old dispatch model used by cab companies. It keeps costs down, which customers appreciate, and competition through the app’s rating system pushes the drivers to keep their cars clean and be prompt and courteous. None of these are traits which the traditional cab companies are known for.

Rather than running crying to the mayor in the hopes that City Hall will force Uber and Lyft out of town or place hard limits on how many drivers can compete for our business, the cab companies need to fight back by improving their service. Nothing is stopping them from developing the technology to allow customers to track where their cab is and know when they can expect it to arrive. And they could readily offer a plan where customers can pay for their rides over their phones. This is simply the evolutioni of the industry on display. If you want to beat Uber… be better than Uber.

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Freaky: Chinese Tanker Was Filled With Body Parts of Dead Americans

Unbeknownst to most Americans, every year the body parts of an untold number of deceased Americans are shipped across the world in containers like those on a Chinese freighter that departed from South Carolina last summer.

According to an investigation by Reuters, that particular Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship had been “bound for Europe” and “included about 6,000 pounds of human remains valued at $67,204.”

As shocking and horrific as this sounds, it’s perfectly legal and all part of a system wherein U.S. businesses dissect the bodies of “altruistic donors” and then ship them overseas “to medical training and research companies.”

It’s for science, basically, though there’s just one nagging caveat: Not everyone is aware that, when they sign a consent form to allow their bodies to be dissected posthumously for scientific purposes, chances are their bodies “might be dismembered and sent to the far reaches of the globe.”

“There are people who wouldn’t necessarily mind where the specimens were sent if they were fully informed,” remarked Brandi Schmitt, who directs the University of California system’s anatomical donation program. “But clearly there are plenty of donors that do mind and that don’t feel like they’re getting enough information.”

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Particularly family members of the deceased, who often find out later that, “Hey, your brother’s (or sister’s or mother or whomever’s) body parts are now being examined and used for science in Germany or Israel, to name a few.”

Reuters notes that since 2008, U.S. companies that specialize in “body brokering” have exported human remains “to at least 45 countries, including Italy, Israel, Mexico, China, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.”

“Whole bodies are studied at Caribbean-based medical schools. Plastic surgeons in Germany use heads from dead Americans to practice new techniques. Thousands of parts are shipped overseas annually; a precise number cannot be calculated because no agency tracks industry exports.”

It’s not the worse thing in the world, though clearly this system could use a lot more transparency, or so thinks Marie Gallegos, whose husband’s head was reportedly shipped to a dental school in Israel months after his death last May.

Would you allow your body to be used like this?

She told Reuters that after her husband’s death, a member of the so-called Donate Network of Arizona contacted her to ask for permission to use her husband’s body for science. What the representative neglected to mention was the fine print.

“She recalled signing two consent forms, one for Donate Network and one for the company she was told would handle the cremation, United Tissue Network. The UTN form authorized use of her husband’s body parts ‘both domestically and internationally,’” Reuters reported.

When she received her body’s ashes later that summer, she didn’t realize they didn’t include those of her husband’s head.

“Had I known that my husband’s head was over there (in Israel), I would have waited to have the ceremony. If they really wanted my husband’s body for these purposes, they should have told me upfront and verbally,” Gallegos said.

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Another big problem with this system is a glaring lack of regulation. As noted by Reuters, “the body donation industry is so lightly regulated in the United States that almost anyone can legally buy, sell or lease body parts.”

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why you should think carefully before you reply the next time someone asks you, “Can you give me a hand?”

Please share this story on Facebook and Twitter and let us know what you think about this unregulated system of body parts being shipped across the world for science.

What do you think about this brand of “science?” Scroll down to comment below!

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