The body language of the people hearing the testimony was, ‘holy s---’ — seriously,”
The testimony as a “sea change” that “could accelerate” the impeachment inquiry.
It was “the most thorough accounting we’ve had of the timeline.”
💣QuidProQuo2💣
Taylor described the hold on aid as a “nightmare” and said it had already shaken UKR’s faith in the US.
Taylor Confirms There Was Quid Pro Quo Demand In Trump’s UKR Call:
Taylor testified Trump held up military aid to UKR until it agreed to investigate Biden.
💣QuidProQuo3💣
📌Threat of withholding military aid, & an Oval Office mtg.
📌Explicit quid pro quo: which was relayed to directly to Zelensky:
📌Both a meeting & military aid were dependent on the inv’ns (2016elex /server/Biden) & a public announcement (public box) of same.
💣QuidProQuo4💣
Mulvaney last week confirmed a quid pro quo — saying the aid was held up in part b/c Ukraine declined to investigate a wild conspiracy theory about the 2016 election that Trump favors.
Sondland has more splaining to do.
Barr killed criminal referrals.
💣QuidProQuo5💣
Taylor says on a June 28 call with the “three amigos” — Sondland, Volker and Rick Perry — Sondland said he wanted to prevent records of their upcoming call with Zelensky.
“Ambassador Sondland tried to explain to me that President Trump is a businessman.” #Mob
💣QuidProQuo6💣
When a businessman is about to sign a check to someone who owes him something, he said, the businessman asks that person to pay up before signing the check.”
Top diplomat Bill Taylor gave 'disturbing,' 'explosive' testimony on Trump's Ukraine dealings
💣QuidProQuo6💣
It’s was also suggested as a possibility, that if the UKR prosecutor general would make a statement about the investigation potentially in coordination with AG Barr’s probe in the investigation into the interference in the 2016 election.
“It is my sad duty to report that, after a long & painful illness, irony is dead.
Irony was already on life support last week when Don Jr. & Eric, who owe everything they have to family money & favoritism, spoke out against nepotism — in the Biden family.”
Firtash, described in DOJ court filings as an “upper-echelon [associate] of RU organized crime.”
Chicago Prosecutors flagged possible ties between Firtash & Giuliani assocs
💣QuidProQuo8💣
Shokin submitted a 12 page affidavit to Giuliani (at his request), who in turn, waved around on TV & shopped it to the DOJ as “proof” of his (false) allegations against Biden.
According to the doc, it was prepared “at the request of attys acting for Firtash.”
💣QuidProQuo9💣
Firtash’s attorneys Toensing & diGenova met with their long time pal Bill Barr at the DOJ & asked if he could make the Chicago case against Firtash go away, he allegedly declined.
Feds Charge Trump Donor Imaad Zuberi With Hiding Work as Foreign Agent
💣QuidProQuo10💣
Japan’s emperor Naruhito formally ascends to throne in centuries-old ceremony
Hungary’s Orban Gave Trump Harsh Analysis of UKR Before Key Meeting
The discussion at the WH between Trump & PM Orban was held over objections from Trump’s NatSec adviser.
💣QuidProQuo11💣
Trump voters feel betrayed and want a leader to take USA back from the rich and powerful
Is this any surprise?
Chevron Wins Venezuela Waiver Extension As Sanctions Bite
Schlumberger, Halliburton also get extensions to their waivers
💣QuidProQuo12💣
Erdogan Seeks Putin’s Support to Carve Out Syrian Buffer Zone
Meeting Putin in Sochi, Erdogan wants the Kremlin’s help to drive Kurdish forces away from Turkey’s border
Turkey may resume Syria assault as some Kurdish fighters yet to withdraw: Erdogan
💣QuidProQuo13💣
Trump’s quest for vengeance against John Brennan
Trump’s obsession with former CIA director John Brennan could be on a collision course with an ongoing DOJ probe as Barr takes a politicalized approach to examining the intel community’s actions in 2016.
💣QuidProQuo14💣
Sen. Klobuchar released evidence that the DOJ buried the WBC about Trump’s call with Zelensky by failing to refer the matter to the Federal Election Commissio
Howard Hughes announces management reshuffle, to sell assets worth $2 billion
💣QuidProQuo15💣
Trump Running Out of Options for Homeland Security Secretary
Two of the president’s potential picks have been deemed ineligible because of a federal statute.
US expands ban on foreign aid to overseas abortion providers
WeWork board accepts SoftBank rescue deal
💣QuidProQuo16💣
Albin Kurti may be designated PM as early as this week, when his first task is to try to form a gov’t.
Then he’ll have to get to work trying mend ties with Serbia -- a key requirement to starting accession talks with the EU.
TeamTrump’s candidate came in 3rd.
💣QuidProQuo17💣
Danske Probe Draws U.S. Pressure for Convictions,
Iraq says U.S. forces withdrawing from Syria have no approval to stay
‘A big deal’: FB matches Google’s $1B pledge to fight housing crisis
House Passes Maloney Bill to Crack Down on Anonymous Shell Companies
💣QuidProQuo19💣
Feds Are Probing Suspicious Financial Transactions By Two Giuliani Assocs Who Ran A Back-Channel Campaign
The Chicago prosecutors reached out to their counterparts in NY, where the foreign money charges had been brought, to offer assistance, the people said.
💣QuidProQuo19💣
Parnas had been working as an interpreter for Firtash’s lawyers since late July.
Chicago prosecutors suspect there might be a broader relationship among Firtash, Parnas & Fruman.
U.S. Wins Court Seizure of North Korean Cargo Vessel
💣QuidProQuo20💣
RU trolls are back to meddle with the coming US elex
Profiles originating in RU had since the beginning of this year been building a network of accounts on Instagram designed to look like groups in swing states.
Instagram is owned by FB.
💣QuidProQuo21💣
Facebook isn’t free speech, it’s algorithmic amplification optimized for outrage
Erdogan, in Russia, Threatens to Resume Offensive
President Accused of Fraud in Bolivia Election as He Opens Big Vote Lead
US Brands Turkey’s State-Run Halkbank a ‘Fugitive’
💣QuidProQuo22💣
Despite Vow to End ‘Endless Wars,’ Here’s Where About 200,000 Troops Remain
Under Trump, there are now more troops in the Middle East than when he took office, and he has continued the mission for tens of thousands of others far from the wars of 9/11.
💣QuidProQuo23💣
McConnell introduces resolution opposing US withdrawal from Syria
Exxon to face trial in NY climate change investor fraud lawsuit
U.S. EPA set to release fuel economy revisions by year-end
Obamacare Premiums to Fall & Number of Insurers to Rise Next Year
💣QuidProQuo24💣
46 AGs have joined a NY-led antitrust inv’n into FB
The expanded roster of 47 states and territories taking part in the inv’n reflects broad concerns among officials that ‘FB may have put consumer data at risk.’
GOP operative pleads guilty in fraud PAC scheme
💣QuidProQuo25💣
Russian journalist recruited by Wagner private military company killed in Libya
Mexico to probe officials over failed arrest of Chapo's son
Under Armour founder Kevin Plank has decided to step down as CEO
Nike’s Chief Executive, Mark Parker, Is Stepping Down
💣QuidProQuo26💣
Treasurer of Multiple Political Action Cmtes Pleads Guilty to Filing False Reports With The FEC
Trump Floats Mulvaney Replacements after disastrous presser: Mnuchin & Conway
However, Removing Mnuchin from Treasury could disturb volatile markets
💣QuidProQuo27💣
Finnish journo Jessikka Aro on backlash she got for exposing RU trolls
4 flight attendants arrested on 💰💦 charges at Miami Airport
US expands ban on foreign aid to overseas abortion providers
‘There Is No Hope’: Crisis Pushes Haiti to Brink of Collapse
💣QuidProQuo28💣
In Hungary, a Freewheeling Trump Ambassador Undermines U.S. Diplomats
He brokered a White House meeting for Hungary’s prime minister. He spends $320k on parties & takes positions at odds with American policy.
6 Key Revelations of Taylor’s Opening Statement to Impeachment Investigators
William B. Taylor Jr., the top American diplomat in Ukraine, delivered detailed testimony on Tuesday about the actions at the heart of the inquiry. nytimes.com/2019/10/22/us/… via @NYTimes
Top U.S. envoy ties Trump directly to Ukraine quid pro quo
William Taylor’s testimony provides some of the most damaging evidence yet in the Democrats’ impeachment
DEMs said Taylor drew a "direct line" between the president's demand that Ukraine investigate his political rivals and distribution of U.S. military aid.
A top U.S. diplomat said Trump made nearly $400 million in aid contingent on the Ukrainian president investigating Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and alleged Ukrainian interference in the 2016 election
Hungary’s Orban Gave Trump Harsh Analysis of Ukraine Before Key Meeting
The discussion at the White House between President Trump and Prime Minister Viktor Orban was held over objections from Mr. Trump’s national security adviser. nytimes.com/2019/10/22/us/… via @NYTimes
Michael Cohen-Linked Fundraiser Made Illegal Campaign Contributions
Trump’s obsession with former CIA director John Brennan could be on a collision course with an ongoing DOJ probe as Barr takes a politicalized approach to examining the intel community’s actions in 2016.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) released evidence on Tuesday that the Justice Department buried the whistleblower complaint about Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president by failing to refer the matter to the Federal Election Commission
Russian trolls are back to meddle with the coming US election
Profiles originating in Russia had since the beginning of this year been building a network of accounts on Instagram designed to look like groups in swing states. Instagram is owned by FB.
Forty-six AGs have joined a NY-led antitrust investigation into Facebook
The expanded roster of 47 states and territories taking part in the investigation reflects broad concerns among officials that ‘Facebook may have put consumer data at risk.’
Facebook says it will invest $1 billion over the next decade to help fund 20,000 new homes in California, becoming the latest big employer to ramp up its financial commitment amid a crippling housing shortage.
Despite Vow to End ‘Endless Wars,’ Here’s Where About 200,000 Troops Remain
Under Trump, there are now more troops in the Middle East than when he took office, and he has continued the mission for tens of thousands of others far from the wars of 9/11.
Finnish journalist Jessikka Aro on backlash she got for exposing RU trolls
Ark published a series of stories in Finland about RU internet trolls & their activity that was to have a profound impact not only on the world at large but on her personal life.
On Feb. 3, long-time Trump associate Felix Sater filed a cross-complaint in a NY federal court. The complaint alleges that Russian and Kazakhstan-connected individuals and entities conducted “a shadow intelligence operation of Sater and Trump. 🙄😂🙄 thefederalist.com/2022/02/04/law…
Please join me on a photo tour of beautiful & tranquil Père-Lachaise cemetery?
A visit to the Père-Lachaise cemetery is always on my itinerary — it is always so relaxing exploring the paths, lanes & trails as you always see something new & different & leave feeling relaxed.
This 1995 infrared photo is my favorite and standard I seek to duplicate each time I visit Père-Lachaise cemetery. 🤷♀️
Infrared photography is #oldskoll, but today I played in PhotoShop to see if I could render my newer color images w/ similar effects achieved as infrared film.
Here is a color image & its twin “infrared” rendered version.
Woodward book: Worried Trump could 'go rogue,' Milley took top-secret action to protect nuclear weapons cnn.com/2021/09/14/pol…
Gen. Milley 'was certain that Trump had gone into a serious mental decline in the aftermath of the election, with Trump now all but manic, screaming at officials and constructing his own alternate reality about endless election conspiracies.'
Milley's fear was based on his own observations of Trump's erratic behavior. His concern was magnified by the events of January 6 and the 'extraordinary risk' the situation posed to US national security, the authors write.
High-profile supporters of Trump descended on Brazil to throw their weight behind president Jair Bolsonaro, as the populist gears up for a re-election campaign next year viewed as a key battle for the global anti-establishment [anti-democratic] right. ft.com/content/6e81d7…
Jason Miller: Former Trump spokesman questioned for three hours by police in Brazil
“This afternoon my travelling party was questioned for three hours at the airport in Brasilia, after having attended this weekend’s CPAC Brasil Conference.”
One of the star speakers [CPAC Brazil] was the former US president’s eldest son Don Jr, who gave a live video address because of cancelled flights due to hurricane disruption in New York. He said Brazil had “a big decision to make next year”.
Former top Republican congressman registers as lobbyist for Saudi Arabia
Ed Royce registers to work with Saudi foreign ministry to 'facilitate meetings with federal government officials,' Politico reports middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-ara…
Ed Royce was involved in Elliott Broidy’s Romanian Arms deal.
Ed Royce was also involved in Broidy & Nader’s disinfo op, for which they were both indicted by the Qataris, to smear Qatar as a terrorist-supporting state.
Ed Royce introduced legislation that would brand Qatar as a terrorist-supporting state. cbsnews.com/news/witness-i…