Monday, Sept. 18

·       Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke recommended to President Donald Trump to modify ten national monuments and shrink the boundaries of at least four in western states, according to The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/shrink-at-least-4-national-monuments-and-modify-a-half-dozen-others-zinke-tells-trump/2017/09/17/a0df45cc-9b48-11e7-82e4-f1076f6d6152_story.html?undefined=&utm_term=.1aad47583a15&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

·       Trump addressed the U.N. General Assembly, saying it had not reached its full potential because of a bloated bureaucracy and mismanagement. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/09/18/trump-pushes-reform-in-united-nations-debut-calls-for-changing-business-as-usual/?deferJs=true&outputType=default-article&undefined=&utm_term=.2bf1dff914bf&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

·       Six immigrants sued the Trump administration over its decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/45840-six-dreamers-sue-trump-administration-over-daca-decision

·       Trump nominated Trey Trainor of Texas to serve on the Federal Election Commission, an agency charged with enforcing campaign finance laws. According to Truthout, Trainor has been called his state's "biggest defender of dark money" and has used social media to promote extremist religious views. http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/41992-meet-trump-s-controversial-federal-election-commission-pick

Tuesday, Sept. 19

·       Trump warned the U.N. about the continued threat of North Korea and said, ³We will have no choice but to destroy North Korea," and called its leader, Kim Jong Un, ³Rocket Man.² http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/10697502.365783/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE3LzA5LzE5L2luLXUtbi1zcGVlY2gtdHJ1bXAtd2FybnMtdGhhdC10aGUtd29ybGQtZmFjZXMtZ3JlYXQtcGVyaWwtZnJvbS1yb2d1ZS1yZWdpbWVzLWluLW5vcnRoLWtvcmVhLWlyYW4vP3V0bV90ZXJtPS4wNjgxNTU5MzUyYzcmd3Bpc3JjPWFsX2FsZXJ0LUNPTUJPLXdvcmxkJTI1MkJuYXRpb24md3Btaz0x/58b0dd73e9a8a20d708b4740Cc6c5bef3

·       The New York Times reported that Special Counsel Robert Mueller told Trumpıs former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, to expect to be indicted for possible violations of tax laws, money-laundering, and failure to disclose foreign lobbying. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/18/us/politics/mueller-russia-investigation.html

·       Under subpoena, Facebook handed over records about Russian ad purchases to Special Counsel Mueller. http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/45848-facebooks-russian-ad-records-subpoenaed-by-special-counsel

·       Reflecting Trumpıs desire for a massive increase in military spending, the Senate approved a $700 billion defense spending policy bill including billions of dollars for nuclear weapons. http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/41984-senate-passes-defense-bill-that-would-bolster-nuclear-weapons-programs

·       Talking Points Memo reported that the Republican Governors Association had launched a web site as a news outlet but did not acknowledge that it was hosted by an official party committee. http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/republican-gov-association-quietly-launches-news-outlet

·       CNN reported that U.S. investigators wiretapped former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort under secret court orders before and after the election. http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/18/politics/paul-manafort-government-wiretapped-fisa-russians/index.html

·       The Teamsters Union resolved to become a ³sanctuary union² and to fight deportation of its members. http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/41976-teamsters-resolve-to-become-sanctuary-union-to-fight-deportation-of-members

·       The Senate Intelligence Committee canceled a hearing with Trump associate and former lawyer Michael Cohen because Cohen made public statements before the interview after the committee requested that he refrain from public comment. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-lawyer-to-meet-with-senate-intelligence-committee-tuesday-in-russia-probe/2017/09/18/6a33fb8a-9c97-11e7-9083-fbfddf6804c2_story.html?undefined=&utm_term=.0834ba144e4f&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

·       The New York Times reported that a draft report by the Department of Health and Human Services was scrapped by the White House because it found that refugees brought in $63 billion more in government revenues over the past decade than they cost. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/09/19/an-internal-report-undercut-one-of-trumps-biggest-goals-so-it-was-scrapped/?undefined=&utm_term=.1b24e0feef3d&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

·       In a major setback to the latest effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a bipartisan group of governors and influential interest groups expressed their opposition. https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/renewed-obamacare-repeal-effort-dealt-a-blow-as-governors-come-out-in-opposition/2017/09/19/499478fe-9d51-11e7-9083-fbfddf6804c2_story.html?undefined=&utm_term=.70aaf1ae4b8f&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

·       Climate change information has been purged from the tax-payer funded U.S. Geological Surveyıs ³Science Explorer² web site. http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/45855-no-results-found-thousands-of-climate-science-links-purged-from-usgs-online-database

·       Vox reported that last week a federal court stopped plans to expand coal mining in the Western U.S., and told the BLM that it must consider greenhouse gas emissions before approving coal leases. https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/9/19/16332952/court-ruling-coal-climate-change

·       Attorney General Jeff Sessions attacked Californiaıs new ³sanctuary state² bill, calling it ³unconscionable² and a threat to public safety. http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-sessions-sanctuary-20170919-story.html#nws=mcnewsletter

·       San Francisco and Oakland sued five oil companies for the cost of protecting the Bay Area from rising sea levels and other effects of global warming. http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-climate-1505933864-htmlstory.html#nws=mcnewsletter

Wednesday, Sept. 20

·       The latest attempt to gut the ACA would cause 34 states to lose Medicaid subsidies. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/graham-cassidy-bill-would-cut-funding-to-34-states-new-report-shows/2017/09/20/48741d92-9d58-11e7-9083-fbfddf6804c2_story.html?undefined=&utm_term=.6e007ebaba15&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

·       The Washington Post reported that the Republican National Committee spent over $425,000 — money earmarked for election recounts — to pay for Trumpıs legal fees related to the Russia investigations. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/09/19/rnc-taps-legal-account-to-help-pay-for-president-trumps-lawyers-in-russia-probes/?utm_term=.df7065597f3a&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

·       California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced a lawsuit on behalf of the state to challenge Trumpıs border wall. http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-california-to-sue-trump-administration-1505858312-htmlstory.html

·       Truthout reported that last week Senator Rand Paul said that U.S. participation in Saudi Arabiaıs Yemen war was never authorized by Congress and is unconstitutional. http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/41989-rand-paul-unconstitutional-saudi-war-in-yemen-is-not-in-our-interest-and-congress-should-vote

·       The Securities Exchange Commission revealed that hackers penetrated its electronic system for storing public-company filings and may have used the information to traded illegally. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/sec-says-its-edgar-filing-system-was-hacked-in-2016-2017-09-20?siteid=bnbh

·       The Washington Post reported that, during the campaign, Paul Manafort, Trumpıs former campaign chairman, offered to provide briefings on the campaign to a Russian billionaire aligned with the Kremlin. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/manafort-offered-to-give-russian-billionaire-private-briefings-on-2016-campaign/2017/09/20/399bba1a-9d48-11e7-8ea1-ed975285475e_story.html?undefined=&utm_term=.661848448e9a&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

·       In another setback, the health insurance industry has come out in opposition to the Graham-Cassidy ACA repeal. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/20/us/politics/insurers-oppose-obamacare-repeal.html

Thursday, Sept. 21

·       The House Natural Resources Committee planned hearings on HR200, a bill that weakens sustainable management of ocean fish resources and threatens national marine sanctuaries and monuments.

·       Russia warned that it would strike U.S. forces and allies in Syria if its troops came under fire from US coalition forces. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russia-warns-of-retaliation-if-facing-fire-from-us-led-coalitionin-syria/2017/09/21/00e3b81c-9eba-11e7-8ed4-a750b67c552b_story.html?utm_term=.944b8ce267ef&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

·       North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vented his anger by calling Trumpıs U.N. speech ³unprecedented rude nonsense,² and said he will make Trump ³pay dearly for his speech. I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged US dotard with fire.² http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/10722869.365739/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE3LzA5LzIxL3RydW1wLXNheXMtdGhlLXUtcy13aWxsLWltcG9zZS1uZXctc2FuY3Rpb25zLW9uLW5vcnRoLWtvcmVhLz93cGlzcmM9YWxfYWxlcnQtQ09NQk8td29ybGQlMjUyQm5hdGlvbiZ3cG1rPTE/58b0dd73e9a8a20d708b4740Ca94f7296

·       The Daily Beast reported that suspected Russia propagandists on Facebook tried to organize more than a dozen pro-Trump rallies in Florida during last yearıs election. http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/45892-russians-appear-to-use-facebook-to-push-trump-rallies-in-17-us-cities

·       Truthout reported that last week, the Census Bureau released a report that shows the median income for black people is $25,000 less than that of white people. http://www.truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/census-bureau-report-reveals-alarming-racial-income-disparities

Friday, Sept. 22

·       Trump lashed back at North Korea president Kim Jong Un by imposing new financial sanctions and by calling him a madman whose regime will be ³tested like never before.² https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/09/21/trump-says-the-u-s-will-impose-new-sanctions-on-north-korea/?utm_term=.ae0a191deb85&wpisrc=al_alert-COMBO-world%252Bnation&wpmk=1

·       In another setback from those who want to repeal the ACA, Senator John McCain said he would vote ŒNoı on the Graham-Cassidy ACA repeal bill. http://lists.readersupportednews.org/ss/link.php?M=68384&N=25772&C=587bb1249d465d9d8c86566eaf4d0277&L=34712

·       The Trump administration ordered staff at all executive branch agencies to take anti-leaking training classes. http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/45910-trump-administration-is-forcing-employees-to-take-anti-leaking-classes

·       The Navajo Nation said it was ³prepared to challenge immediately whatever official action is taken² to shrink Bears Ears National Monument by Interior Secretary Zinke. http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/45907-navajo-nation-readies-legal-action-if-trump-shrinks-bears-ears-national-monument

·       The Los Angeles Times reported that senior aides to Trump repeatedly warned him not to deliver a personal attack on North Koreaıs leader at the UN saying that it would shut off any chance for negotiations to defuse a nuclear crisis. https://flipboard.com/@flipboard/-aides-warned-trump-not-to-attack-north-/f-169f8fe6c8%2Flatimes.com

·       Education Secretary Betsy DeVos rescinded Obama-era guidelines for handling campus sexual assaults. http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/45919-betsy-devos-rescinds-obama-era-guidelines-for-handling-sexual-assault-on-campus

·       In a speech in Alabama, Trump urged National Football League owners to fire players who kneel during the national anthem. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/09/23/president-trump-says-stephen-currys-white-house-invitation-has-been-withdrawn/?undefined=&utm_term=.7d26b192dcfa&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

·       The Department of Homeland Security notified election officials in 21 states that they had been targeted by Russian government hackers during the 2016 election campaign. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/dhs-tells-states-about-russian-hacking-during-2016-election/2017/09/22/fd263a2c-9fe2-11e7-8ea1-ed975285475e_story.html?undefined=&utm_term=.5383761aa289&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

·       Scientific American reported that the Trump administration has put on hold a study of the connections between mountaintop coal mining and the health of nearby communities. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/trumps-breathtaking-hypocrisy-on-coal-mining/

·       Amid tensions over North Koreaıs nuclear and missile tests and despite US opposition, 51 countries signed the world's first legally binding treaty banning nuclear weapons. http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=22&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftruth-out.org%2Fnews%2Fitem%2F42039-amid-tensions-with-north-korea-51-countries-sign-ban-on-nuclear-weapons-despite-us-opposition

Saturday, Sept. 23

·       Trump tweeted, ³Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!² https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/09/23/president-trump-says-stephen-currys-white-house-invitation-has-been-withdrawn/?undefined=&utm_term=.7d26b192dcfa&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

·       In support of U.N. sanctions, China announced that it would limit exports to N. Korea of refined petroleum products and ban exports of condensates and liquefied natural gas. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/china-watches-in-frustration-as-north-korea-crisis-enters-dangerous-spiral/2017/09/24/33ec15c2-a119-11e7-8c37-e1d99ad6aa22_story.html?undefined=&utm_term=.55514b3f14e3&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

·       N. Koreaıs foreign minister warned that a strike against the U.S. mainland is ³inevitable² because Trump belittled leader Kim Jong Un with the nickname ³little rocket man.² https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/north-koreas-top-diplomat-says-strike-against-us-mainland-is-inevitable/2017/09/23/c3bcb108-dd8f-4761-b55f-92044348f179_story.html?undefined=&utm_term=.563c861cb799&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

·       Trump tweeted, ³Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!² https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/911789314169823232

·       Iran announced that it conducted a successful test of a new ballistic missile design despite pressure from the Trump administration to stop. http://thehill.com/policy/international/352033-iran-claims-successful-ballistic-missile-test

Sunday, Sept. 24

·       A spokeswoman for Department of Health and Human Services said that HHS Secretary Tom Priceıs extravagant travel spending on private charter planes will be the subject of an investigation. http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/45941-tom-price-sure-knows-a-lot-about-waste-fraud-and-abuse

·       Trump called for a boycott of the NFL when he tweeted, ³If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast.² https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/09/24/trumps-culture-war-with-the-nfl-is-getting-very-real/?undefined=&utm_term=.8a859f8f5aaa&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

·       Hours before it was set to expire, the White House announced expansion of its travel ban to eight countries: Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen. http://lists.readersupportednews.org/ss/link.php?M=68384&N=25807&C=587bb1249d465d9d8c86566eaf4d0277&L=34751

·       Senator Susan Collins of Maine expressed reservations in voting for the ACA replacement bill making it doubtful that it will pass. http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/45950-susan-collins-voicing-doubt-on-health-bill-leaves-it-close-to-collapse

·       The Trump administration announced plans to shut down Obamacare enrollment for 12 hours during all but one Sunday during open enrollment. http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/42049-obamacare-website-to-be-shut-down-for-portion-of-most-weekends-during-open-enrollment