Governor John Kasich (R-OH) announced that he would seek the 2016
Republican presidential nomination. He spoke at Ohio State University in
Columbus.
Video link: John Kasich Announcement
Source: C-Span
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Donald Trump Remarks in Sun City, South Carolina
Republican 2016 presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke to supporters
at a campaign rally in Sun City, South Carolina. He talked about job
creation, trade, and turmoil in the Middle East. During his speech he
read aloud to the crowd the cell phone number of Senator Lindsey Graham
(R-SC).
Video link: Trump in South Carolina
Source: C-Span
Army Chief of Staff Confirmation Hearing
General Mark Milley gave testimony before the Senate Armed Services
Committee at his nomination hearing. If confirmed, he would replace the
outgoing Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno.
Video link: Confirmation Hearing
Source: C-Span
Sandra Bland's Death Will Be Investigated as Thoroughly as Murder Case: DA
The probe into the jail cell death of Sandra Bland will be treated
as thoroughly "as it would be in a murder investigation," a Texas
district attorney said Monday.
"There are many questions being raised about
this case," Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis said during an
evening news conference. "It needs a thorough and exhaustive review."
Yet, Waller County Sheriff's Office Captain of
Patrol Brian Cantrell said at the same press conference that Bland's
July 12 death inside a Waller County Jail was already ruled a suicide.
"I want to make clear that the death of Ms.
Bland was a tragic incident — not one of criminal intent or a criminal
act," Cantrell said.
Cantrell claimed Bland, 28, strangled herself with a jail cell trash bag, but her family has disputed the very notion that she would kill herself. They have asked for an independent autopsy.
Full article available here: Sandra Bland Death
Blacks More Likely to Die Suddenly From Cardiac Arrest, Study Finds
African-Americans are twice as likely as whites
to die from sudden cardiac arrest, and they are younger on average when
it happens, too, researchers reported Monday.
It's more troubling evidence that blacks have more severe heart disease than whites, but it's still not clear why.
Sudden cardiac arrest can
be caused by heart attacks but it's also caused by irregular heart beat
and electrical disturbances. The study of more than 100 blacks and
1,200 whites who suffered cardiac arrest in the Portland area showed
that blacks were, on average, six years younger than whites when it
happened.
Blacks were also more likely to have other diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease, than whites.
Full article available here: Blacks More Likely....
Source: NBC News
Can John Kasich Get Traction in the Summer of Donald?
First Read is a morning briefing from Meet the Press and the NBC
Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why
they matter.
Can John Kasich get traction in the Summer of Donald?
If the two-term governor of all-important Ohio -- with a 60%
approval rating in his state -- announces a presidential bid and no one
hears it, did it really happen? That's John Kasich's challenge as he
makes his White House run official today at 11:00 am ET amid all of the
Donald Trump headlines. Trump leads nationally in another poll! Trump is running second in Iowa! The Des Moines Register wants Trump out of the race! Trump is still feuding with John McCain! And oh, Donald Trump just killed a guy with a trident!
Yes, we made that last one up (it's from "Anchorman"), but you get the
point: It's the Summer of Donald, and it's become hard for the other GOP
presidential hopefuls to break through. Remember that Scott Walker
officially announced his presidential bid last week, and he barely broke
through all the Trump news, at least nationally.
Two weeks out, Kasich has work to do to make that first GOP debate
And cutting through the Trump noise is doubly
important for Kasich since -- as of right now -- he's on the outside
looking in of making that first debate next month in his home state.
Below are the polling averages from the last five national polls
(WaPo/ABC, Fox, USA Today/Suffolk, Monmouth, CNN). And remember that the
Top 10 make the debate stage.
- Trump - 16.8%
- Bush - 14.8%
- Walker - 9.8%
- Rubio - 6.2%
- Huckabee - 6.2%
- Paul - 6.2%
- Carson - 5.8%
- Cruz - 5.2%
- Christie - 2.8%
- Perry - 2.4%
- Santorum - 1.8%
- Kasich - 1.6%
- Jindal - 1.4%
- Fiorina - 0.8%
- Graham - 0.2%
Monday, July 20, 2015
White House Press Briefing
Spokesman Josh Earnest briefs reporters and is expected to take
questions on a variety of topics, including the reopening of the Cuban
embassy in Washington, D.C.
Video link: WH Press Briefing
Source: C-Span
President Obama Meeting with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari
President Obama and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari speak to reporters ahead of a bilateral meeting.
Video link: President Obama Meets with Buhari
Source: C-Span
Jeb Bush on Federal Spending
2016 Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush (R-FL) made remarks
about the economy. He spoke at Florida State University in Tallahassee,
Florida.
Video link: Jeb Bush
Source: C-Span
Cuban Embassy Opening - (Indoor Ceremony) in Washington D.C.
U.S.-Cuba relations were officially restored with the re-opening of the
Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C. President Dwight Eisenhower severed
diplomatic relations with Cuba on January 3, 1961. Cuban Foreign
Minister Bruno Rodriguez was expected to deliver remarks.
Video link: Cuban Embassy Opening
Source: C-Span
Embassies Open For Business: U.S. in Havana, Cuban in Washington, D.C.
Statement by Press Secretary Josh Earnest
The United States welcomes
today’s historic opening of the Embassy of the United States of America in
Havana, Cuba, and the opening of the Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Today’s openings are the
result of respectful dialogue between the United States and the Republic of
Cuba following the December 17 announcements by President Obama and President
Raul Castro to reestablish diplomatic relations between our two nations.
This is yet another demonstration that we don’t have to be imprisoned by the
past. We look forward to working collaboratively to normalize relations with
the Cuban government and people after more than half a century of
discord. Beginning today, our diplomats in Havana will have the ability
to engage more broadly across the island of Cuba, with the Cuban government,
civil society and ordinary Cubans. We look forward to collaborating with the
Cuban government on issues of common interest, including counterterrorism and
disaster response. And we are confident that the best way to advance
universal values like freedom of speech and assembly is through more engagement
with the Cuban people.
Assistant Secretary of State
Roberta Jacobson is leading the State Department delegation at the opening
ceremony at the Cuban Embassy today. The White House will be represented
by Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Benjamin J.
Rhodes and National Security Council Senior Director for Western Hemisphere
Affairs Mark Feierstein.
Source: The White House Press
Office
Representative Mark Takano on Education Policy
Representative Mark Takano (D-CA), a member of the House Education and
the Workforce Committee, talked about the rewrite of the No Child Left
Behind law underway in Congress. He also discussed the Iran nuclear deal
reached July 14 between the P5+1 group* and Iran.
* The P5+1 comprises the U.S., the U.K., France, China, Russia, and Germany.
Video link: Rep. Mark Takano
Source: C-Span
Washington Journal: Anna Palmer on Pro-Israel Lobbyists and the Iran Nuclear Deal
Politico Senior Correspondent Anna Palmer discusses the Iran
nuclear deal and the reactions from pro-Israel lobbyists, including a
60-day lobbying effort on the topic.
Sandra Bland's Family Orders Private Autopsy to Clarify Her Death
Outrage continues to grow over the Texas woman's death while in police
custody; Bland was arrested during a routine traffic stop.
Bruce Lee: A Tribute to 'The Dragon'
November 27, 1940 - July 20, 1973
Rest in peace, "Little Dragon". Rest in peace.
Trailblazers in Black History: Bessie Smith
A short biography of Bessie Smith, the blues singer who hit the theater
circuit at the age of 18, touring in minstrel shows and cabarets. She
eventually started her own revue, which showcased her distinctive voice
and established Smith as one of the greatest female blues singer to ever
live.
John McCain: Donald Trump Owes Vets an Apology, Not Me
Sen. John McCain said Monday that he does not view himself as a hero
but that Donald Trump owes an apology to veterans for his comments
about soldiers captured in war.
Asked on MSNBC's Morning Joe if Trump owes him
an apology, McCain responded: "No, I don't think so. But I think he may
owe an apology to the families of those who have sacrificed in conflict
and those who have undergone the prison experience in serving their
country."
Trump has faced blistering criticism for saying
over the weekend that McCain, who was held as a prisoner of war for more
than five years during the Vietnam War, was "a war hero because he was
captured. I like people who weren't captured."
McCain said during the exclusive interview with
MSNBC that it is his senior officers during the Vietnam War who should
be viewed as heroes, not him.
"A great honor of my life was to serve in the company of heroes. I'm not a hero," he said.
Full article available here: John McCain Responds
Source: NBC News
Walker: Trump Supporters 'Need to Push Him'
In an exclusive interview with NBC's Kelly O'Donnell, Republican
Presidential candidate Scott Walker called on Donald Trump supporters
and other elected officials to urge the real estate mogul to apologize.
'Black Lives Matter' Activists Interrupt O'Malley-Sanders Forum
Democratic presidential hopefuls Martin O'Malley and Vermont Sen. Bernie
Sanders had to cut their messages short after a crowd of activists
interrupted the forum and demanded to be heard. NBC Affiliate KPNX
reports.
U.S. Admiral Says His South China Sea Surveillance Flight ‘Routine’
Admiral Scott Swift, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet
Reuters, 20/07 12:30 CET
By James Pearson and Ben Blanchard
SEOUL/BEIJING (Reuters) – A top
U.S. Navy admiral said he joined a routine surveillance flight over the
disputed South China Sea on Saturday, drawing a stern rebuke from China
which said such activities seriously damaged mutual trust between the
two countries.
Admiral Scott Swift, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet,
confirmed at a press roundtable in Seoul on Monday that he had been
aboard the seven-hour flight of a Boeing P-8 surveillance plane, but
gave no specific details about the flight.
In May, Beijing called a P-8 surveillance flight carrying a CNN team over the South China Sea “irresponsible and dangerous”.
Swift said his flight was routine, like the earlier CNN flight, and did not say if China responded to Saturday’s patrol.
“We have forces deployed throughout the region to
demonstrate the United States commitment to freedom of navigation,” said
Swift, adding the flight allowed him to see “first-hand” new
operational capabilities in the fleet.
Swift said communications with China at sea were “positive and structured”. “They’re normalized, if you will,” he
Full article available here: SCS Surveillance Flight
Source: Euronews
Europe Backs Iran Nuclear Deal in Signal to U.S. Congress
(Click on the map to increase its size.)
Reuters, 20/07 13:14 CET
By Robin Emmott and Francesco Guarascio
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The
European Union approved the Iran nuclear deal with world powers on
Monday, a first step towards lifting Europe’s economic sanctions against
Tehran that the bloc hopes will send a signal that the U.S. Congress
will follow.
In a message mainly aimed at sceptical voices in the U.S.
Congress and strong resistance from Israel, EU foreign ministers
meeting in Brussels stressed that there was no better option available.
“It is a balanced deal that means Iran won’t get an
atomic bomb,” said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. “It is a
major political deal.”
Ministers left the details of their endorsement until after a U.N. Security Council vote scheduled for 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT), but have formally committed to a gradual lifting of sanctions along with the United States and the United Nations.
Following the deal in Vienna, Iran has agreed to
long-term curbs on a nuclear programme that the West suspected was aimed
at creating an atomic bomb, but which Tehran says is peaceful.
The European Union will retain its ban on the supply of
ballistic missile technology and sanctions related to human rights, EU
diplomats said.
Full article available here: Europe Backs Iran Nuclear Deal...
Source: Euronews
Greek Banks Reopen But Many Restrictions Remain
Greeks finally saw their banks reopen on Monday (July 20) but many restrictions remain.
Customers may not cash cheques, only deposit them, and will not be
able to get cash advances abroad with their credit or cash cards, only
pay for purchases.
Full article/accompanying video available here: Greek Banks Reopen
Source: Euronews
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Obama: 'George’s Passing is a Great Loss for my Administration...'
President's Statement on the Passing of Dr. George Cooper
Michelle
and I were saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. George Cooper, the
Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black
Colleges and Universities
(HBCUs). As a native of Tallahassee, FL, George’s love of education and
HBCUs began as a student at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical
University, continuing his education at Tuskegee University and
receiving his Ph. D. at the University of Illinois at Urbana.
George spent the majority of his life ensuring that students at our
nation’s HBCUs were receiving a quality education and had the necessary
resources to succeed and make their communities and our country better.
He served on the faculty at several universities
including Alabama A&M University, Tuskegee University and as
President of South Carolina State University. His service extended
beyond working with students at institutions. For 17 years, he worked
with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute
of Food and Agriculture, ensuring that HBCUs and other minority-serving
institutions were receiving adequate resources to strengthen research
and academic programs. George’s passing is a great loss for my
Administration, the HBCU and higher education communities
and for everyone that knew him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his
wife Diane, family and friends during this difficult time.
Source: The White House Press Office
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