INSIDER
Trump's mainstream picks for top foreign policy posts could reassure allies — and worry China
Read full article: Trump's mainstream picks for top foreign policy posts could reassure allies — and worry ChinaChina watchers know Marco Rubio and Mike Waltz as “the Florida faction” in foreign policy — two Florida lawmakers who share especially tough positions on China.
For US adversaries, Election Day won't mean the end to efforts to influence Americans
Read full article: For US adversaries, Election Day won't mean the end to efforts to influence AmericansThe hours and days immediately after Election Day are likely to pose the greatest opportunity for anyone looking to mislead and deceive U.S. voters.
Judge frees Colorado paramedic convicted in death of Elijah McClain from prison
Read full article: Judge frees Colorado paramedic convicted in death of Elijah McClain from prisonA judge is freeing from prison a Colorado paramedic convicted in the death of Elijah McClain, a Black man whose name became part of the rallying cries for social justice that swept the U.S. in 2020.
How lessons learned from the 2016 campaign led US officials to be more open about Iran hack
Read full article: How lessons learned from the 2016 campaign led US officials to be more open about Iran hackWhen the Russian government hacked into Hillary Clinton's campaign emails and leaked them to the press in 2016, intelligence officials agonized for weeks about the correct response.
Russia is relying on unwitting Americans to spread election disinformation, US officials say
Read full article: Russia is relying on unwitting Americans to spread election disinformation, US officials sayTop U.S. intelligence officials say Russia, China and Iran are continuing to target voters in the U.S. with disinformation and propaganda related to the upcoming presidential election.
Democrats on Capitol Hill express concerns about Biden in private but stay quiet in public
Read full article: Democrats on Capitol Hill express concerns about Biden in private but stay quiet in publicAfter meeting for around two hours to discuss whether President Joe Biden should remain at the top of their presidential ticket, Senate Democrats almost unanimously have agreed on one thing — not to say anything about it.
AI experimentation is high risk, high reward for low-profile political campaigns
Read full article: AI experimentation is high risk, high reward for low-profile political campaignsText, photos, videos and audio created using artificial intelligence are increasingly making their way into campaigns for state and local office.
Justice Department's 'deepfake' concerns over Biden interview audio highlights AI misuse worries
Read full article: Justice Department's 'deepfake' concerns over Biden interview audio highlights AI misuse worriesThe Justice Department says it's concerned that releasing audio of President Joe Biden’s interview with a special counsel about his handling of classified documents could lead to deepfakes that trick Americans.
Intelligence chairman says US may be less prepared for election threats than it was four years ago
Read full article: Intelligence chairman says US may be less prepared for election threats than it was four years agoThe leader of the Senate Intelligence Committee says the U.S. may be less prepared for the threat of foreign disinformation ahead of this year's election than it was four years ago.
Boeing CEO to step down in management shake-up as manufacturing issues plague storied plane maker
Read full article: Boeing CEO to step down in management shake-up as manufacturing issues plague storied plane makerA leadership shake-up at Boeing is highlighting the difficult path facing the iconic aircraft manufacturer as it tries to navigate through another safety crisis.
TikTok bill faces uncertain fate in the Senate as legislation to regulate tech industry has stalled
Read full article: TikTok bill faces uncertain fate in the Senate as legislation to regulate tech industry has stalledTikTok’s extensive lobbying campaign is the latest tech industry push since the House passed legislation that would ban the popular app if its China-based owner doesn’t sell its stake.
The Senate is pushing past far-right objections to aiding Ukraine. But next steps are uncertain
Read full article: The Senate is pushing past far-right objections to aiding Ukraine. But next steps are uncertainThe U.S. Senate is slogging past far-right Republican opposition to helping Ukraine fight Russia.
Ex-cop gets 14 months in jail in death of Elijah McClain, whose mom calls him 'bully with a badge'
Read full article: Ex-cop gets 14 months in jail in death of Elijah McClain, whose mom calls him 'bully with a badge'A former Colorado officer has been sentenced to 14 months in jail in the death of Elijah McClain.
Senate panel takes a step toward ending Sen. Tuberville's blockade of military nominations
Read full article: Senate panel takes a step toward ending Sen. Tuberville's blockade of military nominationsSenate Democrats have moved to temporarily change Senate rules and confirm hundreds of military nominees.
Biden administration picks Maryland for new FBI headquarters
Read full article: Biden administration picks Maryland for new FBI headquartersThe Biden administration has chosen a location for a new FBI headquarters in Maryland, selecting the site over one in Virginia following a sharp competition between the two states.
What to know about Elijah McClain's death and the cases against police and paramedics
Read full article: What to know about Elijah McClain's death and the cases against police and paramedicsA jury has acquitted another Denver-area police officer who put Elijah McClain in a neck hold before the Black man was injected with the powerful sedative ketamine by paramedics and died.
Tech industry leaders endorse regulating artificial intelligence at rare summit in Washington
Read full article: Tech industry leaders endorse regulating artificial intelligence at rare summit in WashingtonAt a closed-door Senate forum, tech leaders loosely endorsed the regulation of artificial intelligence.
Judge delays first criminal trial in Elijah McClain's death over objections of prosecutors
Read full article: Judge delays first criminal trial in Elijah McClain's death over objections of prosecutorsA judge in Colorado has agreed to delay the first criminal trial in the death of Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man who was stopped by police, forcibly restrained and injected with a powerful sedative nearly four years ago.
Senators push overhaul of classification rules after Trump, Biden cases
Read full article: Senators push overhaul of classification rules after Trump, Biden casesA bipartisan group of senators has introduced legislation that would require the National Archives to screen documents leaving the White House for classified material.
Dying patients protest looming telehealth crackdown
Read full article: Dying patients protest looming telehealth crackdownA proposed Drug Enforcement Administration rule aimed at cracking down on prescriptions for dangerous drugs has spurred a backlash from dying patients and those who care for them.
Key lawmakers win access to mishandled classified docs
Read full article: Key lawmakers win access to mishandled classified docsThe Biden administration has begun sharing with a bipartisan group of lawmakers known as the Gang of Eight classified documents found in the possession of former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence.
Senators: Officials blocking access to mishandled documents
Read full article: Senators: Officials blocking access to mishandled documentsMembers of the Senate intelligence committee say they should have access to classified documents that were discovered in the homes of President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence.
US has sent $8.28 billion in pandemic funds to local lenders
Read full article: US has sent $8.28 billion in pandemic funds to local lendersOn the same day the Federal Reserve gave a sobering report on the U.S. economy’s trajectory, administration officials highlighted how they have kept some of the nation’s smallest businesses afloat through the pandemic.
US needs to reform efforts to stop enemy spies, report says
Read full article: US needs to reform efforts to stop enemy spies, report saysA new Senate study warns that U.S. spy agencies’ efforts to stop China and other adversaries from stealing secrets are hampered by miscommunication and a lack of money and staff at the agency intended to coordinate those efforts.
Takeaways from the unsealed Mar-a-Lago search affidavit
Read full article: Takeaways from the unsealed Mar-a-Lago search affidavitWhile the FBI affidavit justifying the search of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate is highly redacted, it includes new details about the classified information that was stored at the former president's home.
Biden signs order on cryptocurrency as its use explodes
Read full article: Biden signs order on cryptocurrency as its use explodesPresident Joe Biden has signed an executive order on government oversight of cryptocurrency that urges the Federal Reserve to explore whether the central bank should create its own digital currency.
Live updates: Ukraine gets $34M in cryptocurrency donations
Read full article: Live updates: Ukraine gets $34M in cryptocurrency donationsA firm that tracks cryptocurrency transactions says $33.8 million in the digital currency has been donated to Ukraine’s government and non-governmental organizations there since the start of Russia’s invasion.
A free-for-all but no crippling cyberattacks in Ukraine war
Read full article: A free-for-all but no crippling cyberattacks in Ukraine warRussia has some of the best hackers in the world, but in the early days of the war in Ukraine, its ability to create mayhem through malware hasn’t had much of a noticeable impact.
Please hold: Pricey way to jump IRS phone line at tax time
Read full article: Please hold: Pricey way to jump IRS phone line at tax timeAt a time when calls to the IRS have reached record levels, a private company lets those who are willing to pay jump to the front of the line to get their phone calls answered.
Thousands of intel officers refusing vaccine risk dismissal
Read full article: Thousands of intel officers refusing vaccine risk dismissalThousands of intelligence officers could soon face dismissal for failing to comply with the U.S. government’s vaccine mandate, leading to concerns from Republican lawmakers about potentially hurting agencies considered critical to national security.
Token of all tokens: Could a $1T coin fix the debt limit?
Read full article: Token of all tokens: Could a $1T coin fix the debt limit?It would be the token of all tokens: a $1 trillion coin, minted by the U.S. government, then cashed in to flood the treasury with cash and solve a political impasse over suspending the debt limit.
More Virginia sites set to welcome Afghan immigrant influx
Read full article: More Virginia sites set to welcome Afghan immigrant influxVirginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration has received notification that the Department of Defense has authorized the use of Marine Corps Base Quantico to house Afghan refugees, as well as a national guard installation in central Virginia.
Senate Dems rallying behind Biden's $3.5T budget vision
Read full article: Senate Dems rallying behind Biden's $3.5T budget visionSenate Democrats from across the party's political spectrum seem near the unanimity they’ll need for the crucial first step toward their $3.5 trillion infrastructure vision.
A snapshot of the bipartisan infrastructure agreement
Read full article: A snapshot of the bipartisan infrastructure agreementPresident Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of senators have reached an agreement to significantly boost infrastructure spending, though considerable hurdles remain before the blueprint unveiled Thursday becomes reality.
WH legislative team pursues 'politics is personal' strategy
Read full article: WH legislative team pursues 'politics is personal' strategyWhile President Joe Biden pitches his infrastructure plan to the American public, the real work of delivering his legislative agenda takes place behind the scenes.
AP sources: SolarWinds hack got emails of top DHS officials
Read full article: AP sources: SolarWinds hack got emails of top DHS officialsThe short answer for many security experts and federal officials is that it can’t — at least not without some significant changes. Ad“The SolarWinds hack was a victory for our foreign adversaries, and a failure for DHS,” said Sen. The FAA initially told the AP in mid-February that it had not been affected by the SolarWinds hack, only to issue a second statement a few days later that it was continuing to investigate. Federal officials said that amount is only a down payment on much bigger planned spending to improve threat detection. The hosting services of Amazon Web Services and GoDaddy were used by the SolarWinds hackers to evade detection, officials said recently.
From vote to virus, misinformation campaign targets Latinos
Read full article: From vote to virus, misinformation campaign targets LatinosThe effort showed how social media and other technology can be leveraged to spread misinformation so quickly that those trying to stop it cannot keep up. Straka said via email that nothing from the #WalkAway Campaign ”encourages people not to vote.” He declined further comment. Democrats blame misinformation efforts for helping Trump win larger-than-expected shares of Latino support in normally reliably blue areas. AdNow researchers will be watching to see if misinformation — especially that meant to discredit COVID-19 vaccines — spreads among congressional districts. So far, Congress isn't investigating Spanish-language misinformation to see if its origins spread beyond Latin America.
Takeaways: What hearings have revealed about Jan. 6 failures
Read full article: Takeaways: What hearings have revealed about Jan. 6 failuresScott Applewhite)WASHINGTON – Many questions remain unanswered about the failure to prevent the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The Capitol Police also did its own intelligence assessment warning that Congress could be targeted on Jan. 6. Four House committees are probing what went wrong with that data collection, including the House intelligence committee. “I don’t want our committee’s examination to be about Trump or about Jan. 6,” Warner, D-Va., said in an interview. Thousands of National Guard troops still guard the Capitol, which is now surrounded by fencing and barbed wire and closed off to the public.
Impeachment vote becomes defining moment for GOP senator
Read full article: Impeachment vote becomes defining moment for GOP senatorBut the North Carolina Republican’s vote to convict former President Donald Trump should not have come as a shock. AdWith Burr retiring at the end of his term in 2022, it’s a vote that could end up defining his career. Exactly a year later, as the Russia investigation was wrapping up, Burr’s time leading the committee came to an abrupt end. He sided with most Republicans in a vote to dismiss the trial, creating an expectation he’d also vote to acquit. AdSo when Burr stood up to vote for Trump's conviction, many in the chamber wondered if there would be other surprises.
Suspected Russian hack fuels new US action on cybersecurity
Read full article: Suspected Russian hack fuels new US action on cybersecurityAdThe reaction reflects the severity of a hack that was disclosed only in December. The administration has also proposed expanding by 30% the budget of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency, or CISA, a little-known entity now under intense scrutiny because of the SolarWinds breach. The breach was discovered in early December by the private security firm FireEye, a cause of concern for some officials. AdRight after the hack was announced, the Treasury Department bypassed its normal competitive contracting process to hire the private security firm CrowdStrike, U.S. contract records show. “In practical terms, what that meant is they weren’t invited in because no department or agency wants to look bad,” he said.
US still unraveling 'sophisticated' hack of 9 gov't agencies
Read full article: US still unraveling 'sophisticated' hack of 9 gov't agenciesAd“This is a sophisticated actor who did their best to hide their tracks,” she told reporters at the White House. It will take us some time to uncover this layer by layer.”U.S. authorities have said the breach, first disclosed in December, appeared to be the work of Russian hackers. “An advanced, persistent threat actor likely of Russian origin was responsible," she said, without providing any details on the potential responses. She said the Biden administration supports changes to “culture and authorities” that prevented the hack from being detected on the federal civilian systems. The hack, Neuberger said, highlights the need to modernize the nation's IT infrastructure and its cyber defenses, issues that will be addressed in an upcoming executive order.
White House names SolarWinds response leader amid criticism
Read full article: White House names SolarWinds response leader amid criticismThe White House says a senior national security official is leading the U.S. response to a massive breach of government departments and private corporations discovered late last year. The announcement that the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emergency technology, Anne Neuberger, has been in charge of the response to the SolarWinds hack follows congressional criticism of the government effort so far as disorganized. Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emergency technology, was in charge of remediating the hack, identifying issues with the federal government's response and launching a study aimed at preventing similar incidents, the White House said. In a letter released Tuesday, leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee blasted the Biden administration for what they said was a lackluster reaction to the SolarWinds hack. Also on Wednesday, the House Homeland Security Committee held a hearing with cybersecurity experts to discuss the SolarWinds hack and other issues.
Biden's first Cabinet member to lead battered intel agencies
Read full article: Biden's first Cabinet member to lead battered intel agenciesPresident-elect Joe Bidens pick for national intelligence director Avril Haines speaks during a confirmation hearing before the Senate intelligence committee on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Washington. (Joe Raedle/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON – The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Avril Haines as director of national intelligence, giving President Joe Biden the first member of his Cabinet and placing the first woman in charge of the nearly two-decade old agency. In her confirmation hearing Tuesday, Haines made clear she intends to end the Trump administration's practice of pressuring officials to shape their analysis to the president’s liking. “When it comes to intelligence, there is simply no place for politics — ever,” she told the Senate Intelligence Committee. “The last four years have been hard on the intelligence community,” said Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the new chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee after Democrats took the majority on Wednesday.
Impeachment complicates the early days of Biden's presidency
Read full article: Impeachment complicates the early days of Biden's presidencyNow Biden will have to do it with President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial beginning potentially as soon as his first day in office. “We’re going to have to move simultaneously in a whole bunch of areas.”Biden has so far stayed largely out of public deliberations over Trump's impeachment for inciting a riot. So let him do his job — and let the Senate do their work,” said California Rep. Barbara Lee, a Democrat. And there’s the prospect they could further exacerbate the already fraught atmosphere on Capitol Hill, politicizing Biden’s agenda and making it tougher for him to get support from winnable Republican senators. And Democrats on Capitol Hill are barreling ahead as well, refusing to accept the prospect that impeachment will deter them from their legislative goals.
Confirmation hearing postponed for Biden's intel chief pick
Read full article: Confirmation hearing postponed for Biden's intel chief pickWASHINGTON – A confirmation hearing for President-elect Joe Biden's pick for national intelligence director has been postponed until next week, according to leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Avril Haines, a former CIA deputy director and former deputy national security adviser in the Obama administration, was to have appeared Friday before the Senate Intelligence Committee. “The Director of National Intelligence plays a crucial role in overseeing the 18 agencies that make up our nation’s Intelligence Community, and the committee looks forward to holding a hearing next week with Ms. Haines,” the senators said. The hearing was announced Wednesday, setting Haines up to be the first of Biden's picks to face a Senate committee for confirmation. Concerns about national security are running high after last week's assault on the Capitol, with law enforcement facing an outpouring of potential new threats, as well as the Russian hack of government computer networks.
Impeachment complicates the early days of Biden's presidency
Read full article: Impeachment complicates the early days of Biden's presidencyNow Biden will have to do it with President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial beginning potentially as soon as his first day in office. “We’re going to have to move simultaneously in a whole bunch of areas.”Biden has so far stayed largely out of public deliberations over Trump's impeachment for inciting a riot. So let him do his job — and let the Senate do their work,” said California Rep. Barbara Lee, a Democrat. And there’s the prospect they could further exacerbate the already fraught atmosphere on Capitol Hill, politicizing Biden’s agenda and making it tougher for him to get support from winnable Republican senators. And Democrats on Capitol Hill are barreling ahead as well, refusing to accept the prospect that impeachment will deter them from their legislative goals.
The Latest: Pelosi ties rioters' actions to 'whiteness'
Read full article: The Latest: Pelosi ties rioters' actions to 'whiteness'Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., holds a news conference on the day after violent protesters loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. “It has been an epiphany for the world to see that there are people in our country led by this president, for the moment, who have chosen their whiteness over democracy,” Pelosi said. Pelosi says, “The complicity, not only the complicity, the instigation of the president of United States, must and will be addressed.”___1:25 p.m. Flight attendants have expressed concern that their flights could be carrying supporters of President Donald Trump who took part in Wednesday’s violent protest and siege of the U.S. Capitol. ___2:25 a.m.Democrats in Congress are laying the groundwork to impeach President Donald Trump.
US: Hack of federal agencies 'likely Russian in origin'
Read full article: US: Hack of federal agencies 'likely Russian in origin'The U.S. government on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, said a devastating hack of federal agencies is likely Russian in origin and said the operation appeared to be an intelligence gathering effort. The assessment was disclosed in a rare public statement from the FBI and other investigative agencies. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)WASHINGTON – Top national security agencies confirmed Tuesday that Russia was likely responsible for a massive hack of U.S. government departments and corporations, rejecting President Donald Trump's claim that China might be to blame. The agencies made clear the operation was “ongoing” and indicated the hunt for new threats was not over. The day of that report, Dec. 19, Trump tweeted that the “Cyber Hack is far greater in the Fake News Media than in actuality” and suggested without any evidence that China could be to blame.
Senator says Trump, McConnell likely to back COVID-19 relief
Read full article: Senator says Trump, McConnell likely to back COVID-19 relief(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)WASHINGTON – A proposed COVID-19 relief bill is expected to get backing from President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell but it won't include $1,200 in direct payments to most Americans, a Republican senator involved in the bipartisan talks says. “President Trump has indicated that he would sign a $908 billion package — there’s only one $908 billion package out there and it’s ours,” Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said Sunday. While favoring the $1,200 checks, Biden said the emerging compromise was "immediately needed” and that additional assistance could follow later. On Sunday, lawmakers involved in the negotiations said the direct payments would have to wait until after Biden is inaugurated on Jan. 20. The direct payments, he said, will be a task for Biden.
Lawmakers say COVID-19 relief bill won’t offer $1,200 checks
Read full article: Lawmakers say COVID-19 relief bill won’t offer $1,200 checksThe $908 billion aid package to be released Monday would be attached to a larger year-end spending bill needed to avert a government shutdown this coming weekend. “This is not a stimulus bill, it’s a relief bill,” he said. While favoring the $1,200 checks, Biden said the emerging compromise was "immediately needed” and that additional assistance could follow later. On Sunday, lawmakers involved in the negotiations said the direct payments would have to wait until after Biden is inaugurated on Jan. 20. The direct payments, he said, will be a task for Biden.
Senate GOP leader sticking with partisan COVID relief plan
Read full article: Senate GOP leader sticking with partisan COVID relief planThe Kentucky Republican made the announcement after President-elect Joe Biden called upon lawmakers to pass a downpayment relief bill now with more to come next year. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi resumed talks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin about a year-end spending package that could include COVID relief provisions. Lawmakers' bipartisan effort comes after a split-decision election delivered the White House to Democrats and gave Republicans down-ballot success. Pelosi and Mnuchin were discussing COVID relief and other end-of-session items, including a $1.4 trillion catchall government funding bill. Pelosi and Mnuchin grappled over a relief bill for weeks before the November election, discussing legislation of up to $2 trillion.
Biden's win hides a dire warning for Democrats in rural U.S.
Read full article: Biden's win hides a dire warning for Democrats in rural U.S.DES MOINES, Iowa – Democrats once dominated Koochiching County in the blue-collar Iron Range of northern Minnesota. But in this month's presidential election, President Donald Trump won it with 60% of the vote. Though Democrats’ rural woes aren’t new, they now heap pressure on Biden to begin reversing the trend. In clinging to their majority, House Democrats lost rural seats, notably the one held for 30 years by Rep. Collin Peterson in western Minnesota. For now, Democrats' future in rural America rests largely on how Biden is viewed there, Heitkamp said.
Senate Latest: Kelly win gives Arizona 2 Democratic senators
Read full article: Senate Latest: Kelly win gives Arizona 2 Democratic senatorsThe former astronaut defeated Republican Sen. Martha McSally, who was appointed to the seat after McCain’s death in 2018. Daines’ first election in 2014 broke a Democratic lock on the Senate seat that had lasted more than 100 years. The six-term congressman from northern New Mexico defeated Republican Mark Ronchetti, a former television meteorologist, and Libertarian Bob Walsh. Reed cruised to victory over Waters, an investment consultant who mounted earlier unsuccessful campaigns for state Senate and U.S. Senate in Massachusetts. Warner defeated Republican challenger Daniel Gade in a low-key race in which the incumbent had a massive cash advantage.
Poll: Virginians about evenly divided on Confederate statues
Read full article: Poll: Virginians about evenly divided on Confederate statuesIn a state where Confederate monuments have stood for more than a century and have recently become a flashpoint in the national debate over racial injustice, Virginians remain about evenly divided on whether the statues should stay or go, according to a new poll. The poll conducted this month by Hampton University and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 46% support removal of Confederate statues and 42% oppose removal. The poll conducted this month by Hampton University and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 46% support removal of Confederate statues and 42% oppose removal. The 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville that left a counterprotester dead had its origins in a city debate over whether to remove Confederate statues. On another topic, the poll found only about 1 in 4 Virginians support keeping schools in the state completely closed to in-person learning.
As Trump holds back, tech firms step in on election security
Read full article: As Trump holds back, tech firms step in on election securityIt was the first that Schiff, then the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, had ever heard of it. Two years later, Schiff says that breakdown is still emblematic of the disjointed effort among government agencies, Congress and private companies as they try to identify and address foreign election interference. Most of the hacking attempts by Russian, Chinese and Iranian agents were halted by Microsoft security software and the targets notified. The current director of national intelligence, John Ratcliffe, a close Trump ally, tried to end most in-person election security briefings — a decision he later reversed after criticism from lawmakers from both parties. Lawmakers say that in restricting what's given to Congress, the administration is effectively restricting what it tells the public about election security and misinformation.
In reversal, intelligence panels to get election briefings
Read full article: In reversal, intelligence panels to get election briefingsWASHINGTON – The Trump administration has agreed to provide in-person briefings on threats to the November election to key members of Congress, backing down from a decision last month to provide that information only in writing. Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe has agreed to provide briefings to the Senate and House intelligence committees, according to the heads of those panels. A person familiar with the briefing said Ratcliffe’s office had accepted an invitation to brief the panel behind closed doors. Democrats said that would prevent members from asking followup questions and allow the administration to limit what information it allows. He said in the statement that he had shared with them his proposal on how the intelligence community will share election updates in the future.
Racial tensions roiling US pose target for election meddling
Read full article: Racial tensions roiling US pose target for election meddlingThe goal, part of the Russian playbook for decades, was to sow chaos by posting content on both sides of the racial divide. Indeed, no single group of Americans was targeted by IRA information operatives more than African-Americans, concluded a report from the Senate intelligence committee. They fear the Trump administration's decision to limit what it tells Congress and by extension the American people about election threats will allow the propaganda to spread. The intelligence statement did not offer specifics about what tactics Russia is using, but the past provides important clues. What people need to be looking for is stuff that is seemingly trying to get a rise out of them, Jankowicz said.
Foreign threats loom ahead of US presidential election
Read full article: Foreign threats loom ahead of US presidential electionNEW YORK As the Nov. 3 presidential vote nears, there are fresh signs that the nations electoral system is again under attack from foreign adversaries. There is no evidence that America's enemies have yet succeeded in penetrating campaigns or state election systems, but Democrat Joe Biden's presidential campaign confirmed this week that it has faced multiple related threats. When asked directly, the Trump campaign refused to say whether it had accepted materials related to Biden from any foreign nationals. Contrary to their narrative, the Democrats efforts to tear these safeguards apart as they sue in 18 states across the nation would open our election system up to foreign interference, Morgan said. Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, a Republican, described Trump's warnings about mail voting absurd and ridiculous.He should be far more forceful and far more direct in condemning foreign interference, Ridge said in an interview.
Democrats: Trump must tell voters about election threats
Read full article: Democrats: Trump must tell voters about election threatsThe Democrats did not detail exactly what they want the administration to say. The Democrats' letter Friday was in response to a statement earlier in the day by William Evanina, the government's chief counterintelligence official. The statement said adversaries such as China, Russia and Iran are seeking to compromise U.S. private communications and infrastructure in campaigns. The statement was from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence panel. Democrats, including members of the Senate intelligence panel, have voiced concerns that an ongoing Republican probe into Bidens son, Hunter Biden, and his work in Ukraine would amplify Russian disinformation.
Biden, lawmakers warn of foreign interference in election
Read full article: Biden, lawmakers warn of foreign interference in electionWASHINGTON Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said he is putting Russia and other foreign governments on notice that he would act aggressively as president to counter any interference in U.S. elections. The statement came hours after Democratic leaders issued a new warning that Congress appears to be the target of a foreign interference campaign. Biden said last week that he had begun receiving intelligence briefings and warned that Russia, China and other adversaries were attempting to undermine the presidential election. In the end, former special counsel Robert Mueller charged 25 Russian nationals for their roles in foreign interference and influence during the campaign. Hillary Clinton, who lost the 2016 presidential election to Trump, said Monday she was glad Biden was speaking up.
Dems ask for FBI briefing on 'foreign interference campaign'
Read full article: Dems ask for FBI briefing on 'foreign interference campaign'WASHINGTON Democratic leaders said Monday they are concerned that Congress appears to be the target of a concerted foreign interference campaign to influence the 2020 presidential election and have asked FBI Director Christopher Wray for a classified counterintelligence briefing. The letter to Wray from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and the top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees contains no details about the threats, though they describe them as serious and specific. They requested the briefing for all members before lawmakers leave Washington for their August recess. Democrats, including members of the Senate intelligence panel, have also voiced concerns that an ongoing probe into Bidens son, Hunter Biden, and his work in Ukraine would amplify Russian disinformation. That probe is being led by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis.___Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report.
2 Republicans opposed by Trump win in N. Carolina, Kentucky
Read full article: 2 Republicans opposed by Trump win in N. Carolina, Kentucky(Patrick Sebastian/Cawthorn Campaign via AP)LOUISVILLE, Ky. Voters rebuffed President Donald Trump and nominated two Republicans he opposed to House seats from North Carolina and Kentucky on Tuesday. Kentucky usually has 2% of its returns come from mail ballots. This year officials expect that figure to exceed 50%, and over 400,000 mail ballots were returned by Sunday. New York officials expect the vast majority of votes to be mail ballots this year, compared to their typical 5% share. Counties have until eight days after Election Day to count and release the results of mail ballots, with 1.7 million requested by voters.
As Bolton speaks, Congress shrugs and points to election
Read full article: As Bolton speaks, Congress shrugs and points to electionFILE - In this Sept. 30, 2019, file photo, former national security adviser John Bolton gestures while speakings at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)WASHINGTON Congress seems largely done with John Bolton. President Trump is clearly ethically unfit and intellectually unprepared to be the president of the United States. I dont have anything to say about it," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. Idaho Sen. James Risch, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters that Im not doing any interviews on John Bolton."