Acting U.S. attorney general dismissed after refusing to defend Trump travel ban, says she was unsure “…that the executive order is lawful”. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/30/acting-ag-sally-yates-wont-defend-trump-immigration-order/97264996/
Local official says death toll in U.S. raid in Yemen was 41 militants and 16 civilians (8 women and 8 children). “Sources in the region said the raid targeted the houses of three tribal chiefs linked to al-Qaeda… But the provincial official said Apache helicopters also struck a school, mosque and a medical facility used by al-Qaeda members.” http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/41-qaeda-militants-16-civilians-dead-us-raid-yemen-891194626
Three migrants dead, one hospitalized in one week, apparently due to carbon monoxide poisoning while camping in freezing weather. “Migrants at the camps use stoves and heaters to keep warm in the freezing cold, but the devices can produce toxic fumes.” http://europe.newsweek.com/third-migrant-death-week-greek-island-prompts-concern-550511?rm=eu
Presidential spokesman on travel ban: “Everyone that needed to be part of the process was consulted.” http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/316817-spicer-what-happened-if-we-didnt-act-and-somebody-was-killed Spicer: “What we couldn’t do was telegraph our position ahead of time to ensure that people (didn’t flood) in before that happened, before it went into place.” Journalist: “If suspected terrorists were able to “flood” into the country before this order went into place, wouldn’t they have done so already?” https://www.salon.com/2017/01/30/trumps-national-security-lie-administrations-false-defense-of-its-muslim-ban-sets-a-worrying-precedent/
Trump administration officials defend Holocaust Remembrance Day statement that did not mention Jews. “Either this is an administration that can never admit it’s wrong, which is not a good thing, or there are people in the White House who think the Holocaust should be de-Judaized.” https://www.salon.com/2017/01/31/donald-trumps-dance-with-the-devil-did-white-house-mean-to-wink-at-holocaust-deniers/ Ironically, the author of this article throws around the phrase “conspiracy theory” as an insult, suggesting that everything that happens in the world must be taken at face value, while she herself is promoting a “conspiracy theory” in her article – that Trump is pandering to white nationalists by not mentioning Jews in his statement!
Acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement also replaced. “…no explanation was given for Daniel Ragsdale’s job being given to Thomas Homan.” http://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-suddenly-replaces-acting-customs-head-daniel-ragsdale-with-thomas-homan/
1.6 million people in the U.K. have reportedly signed a petition opposing Theresa May’s invitation of Donald Trump for a State Visit. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/queen-put-very-difficult-position-trump-state-visit-n714571
Trump signs executive order requiring agencies to revoke two regulations for every new regulation they impose. “It’s horrifying that even after the Wall Street crash, the massive BP oil spill, and numerous other public health and safety disasters across the country due to a lack of strong regulations, Americans will once again have to pay the price for the consequences of corporate recklessness, greed, and lawbreaking.” http://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/01/30/dangerous-and-dumb-trump-signs-executive-order-torching-regulations
The Intercept publishes vast collection of apparently leaked FBI documents, including rules for dealing with informants, internet spying guidelines, loopholes in laws restricting FBI activities, how to get journalists’ phone records without a warrant, rules for aerial surveillance of homes, and rules for spying on student groups and professors, among others. https://theintercept.com/series/the-fbis-secret-rules/
The grandmother of Jared Kushner (Trump’s son-in-law and top aide) shared the details of her desperate experiences as a refugee from Nazi-occupied Poland in an interview now catalogued by the U.S. Holocaust Museum. “There was no place that you could legally go to. It was very hard to get a visa to the United States; it would take years and years…. The doors of the world were closed to us.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/31/jared-kushner-grandmother-refugee-holocaust
Jeff Sessions reportedly grilled Sally Yates during confirmation hearing on whether she would be strong enough to stand up to President Obama. “You have to watch out because people will be asking you to do things and you need to say “no”. You think the Attorney General has the responsibility to say “no” to the President if he asks for something that’s improper?” http://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/watch-jeff-sessions-grills-sally-yates-on-saying-no-to-the-president-when-she-was-obamas-nominee/
White House spokesman implied 5 year-old detainee could have been a threat when asked by a journalist if it was really necessary to detain him. “… to assume that just because of someone’s age or gender or whatever that they don’t pose a threat would be misguided and wrong.” http://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/sean-spicer-defends-detention-of-5-year-old-its-misguided-to-think-kids-dont-pose-a-threat/
Study finds link between school shootings and economy. “…researchers at Northwestern found two periods of increased gun violence in U.S. schools: 1992 to 1994, and 2007 to 2013. Both periods came when unemployment was rising as the economy faltered.” http://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/us-school-shootings-linked-to-unemployment-university-study/
Man who claimed 3 million voted illegally in 2016 election is reportedly registered to vote in three states. http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2017/01/30/ap-voter-fraud-source-triple-registered.html
Progressive News Service 