August 8, 2017


News and Views


TRUMP TRUTH IS HERE. HE’S GETTING READY TO ATTEMPT THE FULL CONTROL OF THE AMERICAN MIND. LOOK AT BOTH OF THESE ARTICLES BELOW, AND DO LISTEN TO THE MADDOW REPORT.

THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW 8/7/17
Pro-Trump corp targets local news stations as propaganda outlets

Ramesh Srinivasan, a professor at UCLA Center for Global Digital Cultures, talks with Joy-Ann Reid about how Donald Trump's FCC chairman helped pro-Trump Sinclair Broadcasting find a loophole to purchase a huge number of local TV stations, which it is forcing to air right-wing commentaries. Duration: 7:18

GO TO Trump campaign's Facebook page for that "news report."



"WOW. FEELS EERILY LIKE SO MANY STATE-OWNED CHANNELS I'VE WATCHED IN OTHER COUNTRIES."

THAT COMMENT COMES FROM MICHAEL MCFAUL, FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA. PERSONALLY, IF I WON’T WATCH FOX NEWS, I CAN’T IMAGINE WATCHING THIS. IT IS INTERESTING, THOUGH, THAT THERE ARE TWO TRUMP CENTERED FACEBOOK PAGES, ONE THE OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE FACEBOOK PAGE AND THE OTHER THE “TRUMP CAMPAIGN” PAGE; WHICH IS STILL IN OPERATION, AND IS THE HOME OF THIS TRUMP PERSONAL PROPAGANDA FAKE NEWS (SORRY, “REAL” NEWS) DRAMATIC PRESENTATION. IT’S MORE LIKE TRUMP THEATER.

OUR REAL US GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO PUT A STOP TO THIS NONSENSE, AND CALL IT AN ATTEMPTED COUP, WHICH IS WHAT IT IS. OR TRUMP MIGHT PREFER TO CALL IT SOMETHING MORE BUSINESSLIKE, SUCH AS “A HOSTILE TAKEOVER.” I’M SURE IT’S NO COINCIDENCE THAT KAYLEIGH MCENANY -- THE STAR OF TRUMP’S NEWEST “NEWS” PRODUCTION -- WHO MAY NOT BE THE PERMANENT COMMENTATOR AT TRUMP TOWER, BUT SHE IS THE NEW OFFICIAL PARTY SPOKESPERSON FOR THE RNC REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE. APPARENTLY, ANYTHING CAN BE BOUGHT IN THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING SOULS.


http://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-launches-real-trump-tv-news-with-kayleigh-mcenany/
By EMILY TILLETT CBS NEWS August 8, 2017, 12:48 PM
Trump launches "real" Trump TV news with Kayleigh McEnany

Photograph -- Kayleigh McEnany FACEBOOK

FOR SOMETHING NOT QUITE SO NEGATIVE, DO WATCH “FULL MILITARY FAREWELL” -- West Wing Week 01/19/17 or, "Obama, Farewell" by The Obama White House on YouTube

A former CNN commentator is now being featured as the host of an [sic] mock-TV news report touting President Trump's successes in what is being dubbed "Trump TV" on his official campaign Facebook page.

A post on Mr. Trump's social media site reads, "Join Kayleigh McEnany as she provides you the news of the week from Trump Tower in New York!" The post went up on Sunday, just one day after McEnany left her role at the cable network.

In the minute and a half-long video, McEnany summarizes positive stories for Mr. Trump, including the positive economic data, the awarding of the Medal of Honor to a Vietnam war veteran, his endorsement of a Senate immigration bill named the RAISE act, which would limit the number of legal immigrants allowed into the U.S. primarily through the use of a points-based system.

McEnany announced, "President Trump has created more than 1 million new jobs," noted the low unemployment rate, high consumer confidence and surging stock market and concluded, "President Trump has clearly steered the economy back in the right direction."

As McEnany ends her segment, she signs out, "And that is the real news."

However, as the Washington Post pointed out, as far as jobs creation is concerned, Mr. Trump hasn't changed the direction of the economy -- under his predecessor, former President Obama, the last six months of his administration showed job creation at a slightly faster rate than the Trump administration.

It's the second of the network-news style segments featured on the Trump campaign's Facebook page, after Mr. Trump's daughter-in-law Lara had hosted the previous edition. Like McEnany, Lara Trump devoted the segment to applauding her father-in-law's accomplishments which she claims were not covered due to "so much fake news out there." The segments are not being posted on the White House Facebook page.

Some have attacked the Trump TV online newscasts -- the former U.S. ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul tweeted, "Wow. Feels eerily like so many state-owned channels I've watched in other countries."

But the positive-spin, week-in-review theme is hardly new in the realm of the digital-age presidency. The Obama White House released a video series dubbed "West Wing Week", narrated by former White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest and was featured on the administration's social media sites. The Obama-era videos, however, focused primarily on the comings and goings within 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., not so much on dispelling "fake news" that the administration doesn't like.

While it's not clear if McEnany will be the regular host of the "real news" segments, which are being paid for by the Trump campaign, the former network commentator now has a new role at the Republican National Committee (RNC) as the party's spokesperson.

In a statement released by the RNC on Monday, the party called McEnany a "seasoned television commentator who brings years of communications and media relations experience to her new role."

"Kayleigh will be an integral part of our Party's ongoing commitment to promoting the Republican message to Americans across the country, said RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.

She added, "Her wealth of experience will be invaluable to the RNC as we continue to support President Trump and build on our majorities in Congress as we head into 2018."

McEnany said in a statement she was "Eager to talk about Republican ideas and values and have important discussions about issues affecting Americans across the country."

Follow
Kayleigh McEnany ✔ @kayleighmcenany
Could not be more honored to join the @GOP as Spokesperson. Humbled to speak on behalf of this party & the powerful movement behind @POTUS!
7:42 PM - Aug 7, 2017
981 981 Replies 1,021 1,021 Retweets 3,937 3,937 likes

McEnany will also serve as the Republican party spokesperson on TV and radio.



NORTH KOREA, THEIR NUKES, AND PRESIDENT TRUMP’S RESPONSE. IT ISN’T SURPRISING THAT SOUTH KOREA WANTS SOME TOO, IS IT? UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT SAD. I AGREE WITH THE PRESIDENT THAT WE NEED TO BE “TOUGH AND DECISIVE,” BUT NOT MENTALLY CHAOTIC. LET THE DIPLOMATS HANDLE THIS, BUT DO IT FAST. THAT’S MY OPINION.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-warns-north-korea-will-be-met-with-fire-and-fury/
CBS NEWS August 8, 2017, 3:30 PM
Trump warns North Korea will be "met with fire and fury"

VIDEO – North Korea Now Making Missile-ready Nukes, 09:07

President Trump addressed the ongoing crisis between the U.S. and North Korea at a briefing on opioids in New Jersey on Tuesday, issuing a stern warning to the regime for its continued provocations.

"North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States," warned Mr. Trump from his golf club in Bedminster.

"They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen," he told reporters. "He has been very threatening -- beyond a normal statement," Mr. Trump said of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. "As I said, they will be met with fire, fury and frankly power the likes of which this world has never seen before."

rts1axhe.jpg
President Trump (R), flanked by Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Tom Price, delivers remarks on North Korea during an opioid-related briefing at Trump's golf estate in Bedminster, N.J., on Tue., Aug. 8, 2017. REUTERS

Mr. Trump's comments come amid reports that a U.S. intelligence assessment concluded North Korea has developed the ability to build a nuclear warhead small enough to fit on top of a ballistic missile, including an intercontinental missile that can reach the United States, CBS News' David Martin confirmed.

The president took to Twitter early in the morning, saying that the U.S. needs to be "tough" on North Korea and its leader Kim Jong-un.

Follow
Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
After many years of failure,countries are coming together to finally address the dangers posed by North Korea. We must be tough & decisive!
7:17 AM - Aug 8, 2017
13,821 13,821 Replies 15,595 15,595 Retweets 69,632 69,632 likes

This comes after a CBS News poll released Tuesday found nearly three in four Americans are uneasy about the possibility of a conflict with North Korea, and most are also uneasy about Mr. Trump's approach to the situation. Of those polled, 61 percent were uneasy about Mr. Trump's ability to handle the North Korean nuclear situation, while 35 percent were confident in his ability.

The U.S. in May successfully carried out its first-ever missile defense test to intercept an ICBM-type weapon, but other tests have had mixed results.



SO, DID THE PRESIDENT TELL HIS LAWYER DOWD TO SHARE THIS TINY TIDBIT WITH THE WORLD OF FAKE NEWS? IF SO, IS HE TRYING TO CAUSE THE PUBLIC TO LOSE TRUST IN MUELLER BY TAINTING HIM WITH A JUDAS KISS, OR CREATE A LITTLE MORE TRUST FOR HIMSELF BY AN APPEARANCE OF FRIENDLINESS AND COOPERATION? THE USE OF THE TERM “BACK AND FORTH” IN THIS ARTICLE ALSO IMPLIES A SERIES OF THESE TRUMP/MUELLER EXCHANGES, RATHER THAN MERELY THIS ONE. IF THAT IS TRUE, I WONDER WHY I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ABOUT IT BEFORE. I DO HOPE MUELLER AND HIS TEAM WILL PURSUE THE ANSWERS TO THE INVESTIGATION STAUNCHLY AND WITHOUT ALLOWING THEMSELVES TO BECOME INTIMIDATED.


http://www.cbsnews.com/news/report-trump-has-exchanged-private-messages-with-special-counsel-robert-mueller/
By REBECCA SHABAD CBS NEWS August 8, 2017, 5:16 PM
Report: Trump has exchanged private messages with Special Counsel Robert Mueller

President Trump has exchanged private messages with Special Counsel Robert Mueller, according to Mr. Trump's chief counsel John Dowd.

Dowd told USA TODAY that the president has expressed that he appreciates what Mueller is doing. He oversees the federal investigation into Russia's influence on the 2016 election.

"He appreciates what Bob Mueller is doing,'' Dowd said Tuesday, according to the report. "He asked me to share that with him and that's what I've done.''

"The president has sent messages back and forth,'' Dowd added.

Dowd declined to elaborate further, the report said.

"We get along well with Bob Mueller; our communications have been constructive,'' he said. "But it is important that our communications remain confidential. It's important that there not be any breakdown in that trust.''

The president himself and one of his lawyers have not ruled out firing Mueller, who Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed in May after Mr. Trump abruptly fired James Comey as FBI director.

The report on Tuesday comes just a few days after it became known that Mueller is using a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. as part of his probe into Russia.

Meanwhile, two senators introduced a bipartisan measure last week that would protect Mueller's job in that it would allow any Department of Justice special counsel to challenge his or her removal in court.



HOW LOW ARE THE PRESIDENT’S POLL RATINGS? THIS IS TODAY’S UPDATE.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/americans-uneasy-about-north-korea-and-trumps-ability-to-handle-it/
CBS NEWS August 8, 2017, 7:00 AM
Americans uneasy about North Korea and Trump's ability to handle it
By Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus, Kabir Khanna and Anthony Salvanto

GO TO WEBSITE FOR STATISTICS.

Nearly three-quarters of Americans are uneasy about the possibility of conflict with North Korea, and most feel that way about President Donald Trump's approach to the situation.

A majority think North Korea is using its missile program to try to gain power and influence, rather than outright planning a nuclear strike on the U.S. Nevertheless, that unease remains.

nk-situation.jpg
CBS NEWS POLL

Most Americans still call North Korea a threat that can be contained – and the overall number who believe it requires military action is not much changed from April.

nk-deve-weapons.jpg
CBS NEWS POLL

As in the spring, a majority remains uneasy about President Donald Trump's ability to handle the situation with North Korea's nuclear program. Only a third are confident in his ability.

ability-to-handle.jpg
CBS NEWS POLL

Most people who think North Korea is posturing think it is a threat that can be contained, while most people who think they are actively planning a strike say military action is required now.

This poll was conducted by telephone August 3-6, 2017 among a random sample of 1,111 adults nationwide. Data collection was conducted on behalf of CBS News by SSRS of Glen Mills, PA. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The poll employed a random digit dial methodology. For the landline sample, a respondent was randomly selected from all adults in the household. For the cell sample, interviews were conducted with the person who answered the phone. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish using live interviewers. The data have been weighted to reflect U.S. Census figures on demographic variables. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus four percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher and is available by request. The margin of error includes the effects of standard weighting procedures which enlarge sampling error slightly. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.