As President Trump was making his way toward today’s Putin Summit a few days ago, the nation’s top intelligence officer and former Republican Senator, Dan Coats, compared the ongoing danger of Russian cyberattacks to red alarms in the lead up to 9/11: “The warning lights are blinking red again…today, the digital infrastructure that serves this country is literally under attack.”
Today, at a joint Trump-Putin press conference that sent shock waves from Helsinki to Twitter and back, made clear that in any dispute between Vladimir Putin and his own appointed intelligence chiefs, Trump sides with Putin.
When asked pointedly by Jonathan Lemire of the Associated Press about Russian interference in the 2016 election and whether he had warned Putin against further meddling, Trump instead undercut his own intel chiefs, claiming that Russian collusion was made up by the Democrats who lost the election, “I don’t see any reason why it would be [Russia], I really want to see the [DNC] server.”
In fact, Trump refused to point any blame at Russia at all, insisting that “both countries” were responsible and that the Mueller investigation “is a disaster for our country”. All this despite the fact that Mueller indicted 12 more Russian intel officers this past Friday on charges related to the election and charges were just unsealed charging a Russian linked to the NRA with conspiracy.
Don’t just take our word. Since the start of the summit Trump’s actions have received sharp rebukes from former Republican House intel chairman Mike Rogers, Senator John McCain, and even a Fox Business Host Neil Cavuto, who called Trump’s failure to denounce election interference “Disgusting”: “That made it disgusting. That made his performance disgusting…only way I feel. Not a right or left thing to me. It is wrong.”
CONFRONT CORRUPTION, DEMAND DEMOCRACY VIGILS
If you are tired of Russia having more of a say in your country than you do, make your voice heard at the Confront Corruption Demand Democracy Vigils. Our democracy is under attack. On Wednesday, July 18th, join the movement to Confront Corruption and Demand Democracy by participating in a candlelit vigil near you. In cities and towns across the country, people will gather at over 70 vigils around the country to stand watch for democracy.
Here are ways to help make the vigils a success:
- Promote on social media using #ConfrontCorruption
- Help turnout for the D.C. vigil at 8 p.m. at the White House (Lafayette Square) on July 18th.
DO RED-STATE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO BE WORRIED ABOUT OPPOSING KAVANAUGH?
The fight to confirm Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is in full swing. Republicans have a 51–49 majority in the Senate and Democrats will need every vote in their conference, and at least two Republicans like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski to block the confirmation
But what about Democrats running in red states? Do they have to worry about a political backlash for opposing a Trump SCOTUS nominee in a state that he won in 2016?
A new poll by Hart Research Associates suggests Democratic senators may actually be better off politically in red states if they cast votes against Kavanaugh.
More on this:
- 54% would approve of a Democratic senator opposing Kavanaugh if it protected the independence of the Court as a check on Presidential power.
- 52% would approve of A Democratic senator opposing a nominee who was “likely to overturn/eliminate protections” in the Affordable Care Act for those with “pre-existing conditions, people over age fifty,” and “women.”