Hear Message Mary Trump Has for Her Uncle, President Trump

Mary Trump, President Donald Trump's niece, speaks for the first time after the publication of her new book in an exclusive interview with ABC News.

Mehdi Hasan Reacts to Ivanka Trump Telling Jobless Americans to ‘Find Something New’ | All In | MSNBC

Mehdi Hasan: “She works in the White House today because her dad hired her for a job she is manifestly unqualified for. This is a woman whose husband and father’s catastrophic mishandling of this virus is the reason the economy is so bad right now.” Aired on 7/14/2020.

The Trump Supporters Who Changed Their Minds: 'I'd Rather Vote for a Tuna Fish Sandwich'

THE GUARDIAN: Frustrated, some Republicans have become anti-Trumpers: ‘This guy couldn’t lead his way out of a wet frickin’ paper bag’

The anti-Trumpers are at it again – only this time, they’re Republicans.

Kevin, a lifelong Republican voter and pastor from Arizona, says he voted for Trump in 2016 “with high hopes for the future”. He knew that Trump didn’t have the same political experience as the other contenders, but he was optimistic he could grow into his new role.

Now he says: “I’ve seen how he has tried to divide our country and that is not something I want, nor what our country should have … This man is an absolute danger to our country.” » | Poppy Noor | Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Shahid Buttar Mounts a Serious Congressional Race against Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi

Democratic Socialist Buttar is challenging Pelosi as a progressive-sounding centrist who pushes a conservative agenda that enables Trump.

Affaire Epstein : Ghislaine Maxwell plaide non coupable de trafic de mineures

LE POINT: L'ancienne collaboratrice du milliardaire demande aussi sa remise en liberté sous caution. La procureure dénonce un risque de fuite "extrême".

C'est un nouvel acte de l'affaire Epstein qui se joue mardi 14 juillet à Manhattan. L'ancienne collaboratrice et amante du financier Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, a plaidé non coupable de trafic de mineures et d'incitation à la prostitution lors d'une audience du tribunal fédéral. Personnalité de la jet-set, Ghislaine Maxwell est accusée d'avoir recrutée des jeunes filles, dont certaines mineures, pour Jeffrey Epstein, mort en prison en août 2019. L'audience de mardi doit être aussi l'occasion pour la fille de l'ancien magnat britannique des médias Robert Maxwell de demander sa remise en liberté sous caution. Elle a proposé pour cela des garanties à hauteur de cinq millions de dollars. » | Source AFP | mardi 14 juillet 2020

Ambassador Rice: I Will Do Everything I Can to See Biden Succeed | Morning Joe | MSNBC

Ambassador Susan Rice, National Security Adviser to President Obama, calls attempts to discredit Dr. Fauci irresponsible. Amb. Rice also says she will do everything she can to help Joe Biden succeed in becoming president. Aired on 07/14/2020.

Chris Hayes: Tucker Carlson's Racist Writer Is No Surprise | All In | MSNBC

Chris Hayes on Tucker Carlson: “You have a guy who had a racist writing his scripts for years, who founded a publication that employed multiple people with ties to white nationalism, who has been praised again and again by the most outspoken racists in the country.” Aired on 7/13/2020.

Trump’s Fox Fave Tucker Carlson Goes Fishing after Lead Writer Resigns over Racist Online Comments

The lead writer for President Trump’s favorite Fox News TV show, “Tucker Carlson Tonight” — the most popular cable show in history — has resigned for posting disturbing racist and misogynist messages to an online forum under a pseudonym. Now Tucker Carlson says he’s going on vacation, and his advertisement blocks “are a wasteland,” says Matt Gertz, senior fellow at Media Matters, where he documents the relationship between Fox News and the Trump administration.

Arrogance of Ignorance? Featuring Richard Dawkins, Evolutionary Biologist (2017)

Despite the unprecedented pace of scientific breakthroughs, humanity still seems to be as far away from the age of reason as ever. With religious extremism and political infantilism spreading across the globe, often aiding one another, has governance based on critical thinking already become a delusion? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Richard Dawkins, evolutionary biologist.

How Incompetent Is Donald Trump? Interview with John Bolton | Conflict Zone

John Bolton dicusses his time as national security adviser and his impressions of US President Donald Trump with DW Conflict Zone.

Four months before the next US presidential election, Donald Trump’s poll numbers are in a slump. Disaffected conservatives call him incompetent and are campaigning against the Republican president, citing the upward curve of new coronavirus cases in the US, the millions of unemployed Americans, and the protests and racial tension in the wake of George Floyd’s killing. They echo Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, who says Trump’s leadership is inadequate.

One of his three former national security advisors, John Bolton, joined DW’s Tim Sebastian to discuss his impressions of President Trump on Conflict Zone. He has just releases his book on the issue 'The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir'

Super-rich Call for Higher Taxes on Wealthy to Pay for Covid-19 Recovery

THE GUARDIAN: Exclusive: Group of 83 wealthy individuals demands ‘immediate, substantial and permanent’ higher taxes ‘on people like us’

A group of 83 of the world’s richest people have called on governments to permanently increase taxes on them and other members of the wealthy elite to help pay for the economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.

The super-rich members, including Ben and Jerry’s ice cream co-founder Jerry Greenfield and Disney heir Abigail Disney, called on “our governments to raise taxes on people like us. Immediately. Substantially. Permanently”.

“As Covid-19 strikes the world, millionaires like us have a critical role to play in healing our world,” the millionaires said in a letter shared with the Guardian. “No, we are not the ones caring for the sick in intensive care wards. We are not driving the ambulances that will bring the ill to hospitals. We are not restocking grocery store shelves or delivering food door to door.

“But we do have money, lots of it. Money that is desperately needed now and will continue to be needed in the years ahead, as our world recovers from this crisis.” » | Rupert Neate, Wealth correspondent | Monday, July 13, 2020

'His Hatred Is Infectious': Tucker Carlson, Trump's Heir Apparent and 2024 Candidate?

THE OBSERVER: For years, Carlson has stoked racial anxieties and courted white supremacists on his Fox News show – and now, some are speculating he could pick up the pieces if Trump loses

The conservative television star Tucker Carlson, whose Fox News program last month became the highest-rated show in the history of cable television, is known to most Americans simply as “Tucker”.

But not everyone calls him that. On the strength of his regular, sneering rants about the danger of immigrants and refugees, the New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has dubbed Carlson a “white supremacist sympathizer”. Her colleague Ilhan Omar prefers “racist fool”. The Nazi website Stormfront has called Carlson “literally our greatest ally”.

And in recent weeks, as his ratings have topped previous records, new labels have been mooted for Carlson: heir apparent to Donald Trump, leader of the Republican party and future president. » | Tom McCarthy in New York | Sunday, July 12, 2020

Trump and McConnell Are the Twin Tribunes of America's Ruin – Vote Them Out

THE GUARDIAN: Under leaders as callous as these, the ravages of Covid-19, economic disaster and systemic racism can only get worse

Fate has been unkind to the United States. The nation is grappling simultaneously with a pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 130,000; the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression; and mind-numbing police brutality, which has generated the largest outpouring of grief and anger against systemic racism in memory.

Perhaps America’s greatest misfortune is that these crises have emerged at a time when its leadership is too incompetent to respond to them, if not maliciously dedicated to worsening them.

Donald Trump has not only refused to contain Covid-19 but is actively pushing Americans into harm’s way, demanding the nation “reopen” while cases and deaths continue to rise. Meanwhile, he’s siphoning federal money intended to dampen the economic crisis into the pockets of his cronies and family. And he is deliberately stoking racial tensions to energize his “base” for the upcoming election. As if this weren’t enough, Trump continues to attack the rule of law, on which a democracy depends in order to deal with these and all other challenges.

But he could not accomplish these abhorrent feats alone. Senate Republicans are either cheering him on or maintaining a shameful silence. Trump’s biggest enabler is the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell. » | Robert Reich | Sunday, July 12, 2020

Epstein Accomplice Can't Hide behind Protection of Plea Deal

Via America's Lawyer: After years of recruiting underage girls for sex trafficking, Jeffrey Epstein’s elusive partner Ghislaine Maxwell is arrested and may finally divulge the names of Epstein’s high-profile clientele. Mike Papantonio & Farron Cousins discuss.

Coronavirus in the USA: Trump's Downfall? | To the Point

A superpower laid low by the coronavirus: Infections in the USA continue to rise and the economy is on life support. Will the pandemic cost President Trump the election?

Guests: Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson (KCRW Radio Berlin), Matthew Karnitschnig (Politico), Daniel Hamilton (Johns Hopkins University)

Daniel Hamilton is a professor for Poltical Science at Johns Hopkins University. Currently he is a Robert Bosch-Fellow in Berlin. He says: "Pandemic, recession, systemic racism -- all made worse by Donald Trump. It's a combustible brew."

Matthew Karnitschnig is chief Europe correspondent for „Politico“. His view: „The pandemic is Trump’s Waterloo. The main question now is not if he will lose, but rather by how much.” Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson is program director at KCRW, a Radio station based here in Berlin and affiliated with the US broadcaster NPR. And she says: „Donald Trump’s performance regarding COVID-19 may not matter, because recessions lead to reelection losers.“

Hagia Sophia: Jewel of the Byzantines

A documentary on the grandest Byzantine church of them all: the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey.

Erdogan per Dekret: Hagia Sophia wird wieder Moschee | DW Nachrichten

Seit Tagen hatte der türkische Präsident Erdogan angekündigt, die weltberühmte Hagia Sophia in Istanbul wieder in eine Moschee umzuwandeln. Nun hat das Oberste Verwaltungs-Gericht seinen Wunsch bestätigt. Damit annulierte es eine Entscheidung von 1934. Damals war das Gebäude in ein Museum umgewandelt worden. Als neutrale kulturelle Stätte brachte es den Besuchern seitdem die wechselhafte Geschichte zwischen Christentum und Islam nahe. Wenige Minuten nach der Entscheidung unterzeichnete Erdogan das passende Dekret.

Trump Commutes Roger Stone's Sentence. Here's Why He Did It

President Donald Trump on Friday commuted the prison sentence of his longtime friend Roger Stone, who was convicted of crimes that included lying to Congress in part, prosecutors said, to protect the President. The announcement came just days before Stone was set to report to a federal prison in Georgia.

Stone was convicted in November of seven charges -- including lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing a congressional committee proceeding -- as part of former special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. Among the things he misled Congress about were his communications with Trump campaign officials -- communications that prosecutors said Stone hid out of his desire to protect Trump.

Trump's decision to pardon his friend and political adviser is the crescendo of a months-long effort to rewrite the history of the Mueller investigation. This has included selective declassification of intelligence materials, a ramped-up counter-investigation into the origins of the Russia probe and attempts to drop the case against Michael Flynn.

"Roger Stone is a victim of the Russia Hoax that the Left and its allies in the media perpetuated for years in an attempt to undermine the Trump Presidency," said Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary. "There was never any collusion between the Trump Campaign, or the Trump Administration, with Russia."

What Are the Questions for Ghislaine Maxwell? - BBC News

The arrest of Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell has reignited interest in her and her alleged role in Epstein's abuse of minors. She’s facing charges relating to the events of 1994-97, when she was among Epstein’s closest associates. Ros Atkins has taken a look at the many remaining questions for Ghislaine Maxwell, in the latest of his weekly reports for the BBC News YouTube channel.

Turkish Court Rules Istanbul's Hagia Sophia Can Revert to a Mosque | DW News

Turkey's highest administrative court has issued a ruling that paves the way for the government to convert Istanbul's Hagia Sophia from a museum back into a mosque. The ruling annulled a 1934 government decree that turned the UNESCO Word Heritage Site, and Istanbul's most iconic landmark, into a museum. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pushed to restore its status as a mosque. He said that international pressure to keep it a museum was a violation of Turkey's national sovereignty. The Russian Orthodox Church has called the move unacceptable.

Arabs in Spain – Award Winning Documentary

Fascinating and beautifully shot documentary which examines the spread of Islam and how its crusaders finally took most of Spain, arriving from Morocco in 711. In one summer the "Arabs had taken half of the peninsular and in five years controlled almost all of the country".

Kanye West Declares He Will Run for US President in 2020

THE GUARDIAN: Rapper uses Independence Day to make announcement, but it’s not clear if he has filed any official paperwork to appear on ballots

Just when you thought 2020 couldn’t get any weirder, rapper Kanye West declared his candidacy for US president.

The unlikely challenger to Donald Trump – of whom he has been a vocal supporter – and Joe Biden, chose American independence day to make the surprise announcement on Twitter, triggering a social media storm.

“We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future,” West wrote. “I am running for president of the United States.” » | David Smith in Washington | Sunday, July 5, 2020


Just when you thought America couldn’t get any crazier! From reality TV star to rapper? What a sick joke America has become! – ©Mark

'Step-up Prince Andrew' Says Gloria Allred, Lawyer for Epstein Victims'

Retired Four Star General: ‘In 50 Years I’ve Never Seen Anything Like This’ | Deadline | MSNBC

Former National Security Council member General Barry McCaffrey and former special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Brett McGurk on why they believe the national security process is broken amid reports the U.S. had intelligence that Russia offered and paid the Taliban bounty to kill U.S. troops. Aired on 6/30/2020.

Maria Ressa, Journalist and CEO of Rappler – BBC HARDtalk

No world leader better epitomises the strong man style of political leadership than President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines. One hallmark of his rule? A visceral dislike of scrutiny from the independent media. HARDtalk’s Stephen Sackur speaks to journalist Maria Ressa who founded the Rappler news website and has just been convicted of cyber-libel in a case that has raised worldwide concern. Is press freedom being strangled by populist politics?

Europeans' Trust in US as World Leader Collapses during Pandemic

THE GUARDIAN: Many citizens appalled by Donald Trump’s handling of coronavirus crisis, study finds

The coronavirus crisis has caused a dramatic deterioration in the European public perception of the US, extensive new polling reveals.

More than 60% of respondents in Germany, France, Spain, Denmark and Portugal said they had lost trust in the United States as a global leader.

A report based on the survey’s findings argues that the shock of the pandemic has “traumatised” European citizens, leaving them feeling “alone and vulnerable”.

In almost every country surveyed, a majority of people said their perception of the US had deteriorated since the outbreak. Negative attitudes of the US were most marked in Denmark (71%) Portugal (70%), France (68%), Germany (65%) and Spain (64%). In France, 46% and in Germany 42% said their view of the US had worsened “a lot” during the pandemic. » | Katherine Butler | Monday, June 29, 2020

America is no longer the real leader of the free world. America is in chaos! Countries in chaos cannot lead effectively, especially when they are led by a president who is inexperienced in matters of international politics. We Europeans should aim for a ‘United States of Europe’ instead. Britain should reverse its decision to leave the European Union and it should become a major player in Europe. Europe needs Britain just as Britain needs Europe. Britain’s destiny lies in Europe, not in America. Brexit was a mad idea then, it is still a mad idea, and it will remain a mad idea! – ©Mark

Iran Issues Arrest Warrant for Donald Trump over Qassem Suleimani Killing

THE GUARDIAN: The leader of the Quds Force was killed in a drone strike in Iraq on 3 January

Iran has issued an arrest warrant for Donald Trump and 35 others over the killing of top general Qassem Suleimani and has asked Interpol for help, Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said on Monday, according to the Fars news agency.

The United States killed Suleimani, leader of the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, with a drone strike in Iraq on 3 January. Washington accused Suleimani of masterminding attacks by Iranian-aligned militias on US forces in the region.

Alqasimehr said the warrants had been issued on charges of murder and terrorist action. He said Iran had asked Interpol to issue a “red notice” for Trump and the other individuals the Islamic Republic accuses of taking part in the killing of Suleimani. » | Reuters, Monday, June 29, 2020

Hayes Calls for Trump to Resign: 'Urgent Matter of Public Health, Public Safety’ | All In | MSNBC

Chris Hayes on why Trump must resign: “If this presidency had creditors, the virus' resurgence this week would have been a default event. Only it is not his creditors who are suffering. It is us.” Aired on 06/26/2020.

How Damaging Is John Bolton's Scathing Account of Donald Trump's Presidency?

The publication of John Bolton’s White House memoir has caused a sensation. Jonathan Freedland assesses the lurid claims of cosying up to authoritarian leaders as well as descriptions of ‘stunning’ ignorance
Despite a last-ditch attempt to prevent publication, John Bolton’s tell-all book about his time in Donald Trump’s White House has landed with a bang. He claimed that as well as witnessing ‘stunning’ ignorance from the president, he also saw up close how Trump tried to ingratiate himself with authoritarian leaders, at the expense of the US.

The Guardian’s Jonathan Freedland has been reporting on US politics for years and tells Anushka Asthana that even knowing what we do about the Trump administration, this account still has the ability to shock.

Listen to the podcast here » | Thursday, June 25, 2020

Dr. Gupta: US in the Middle of a Coronavirus Storm

CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta raises the alarm with New Day's Alisyn Camerota over the rising state of the novel coronavirus in the nation.

Phillip Schofield Grills Lady Colin Campbell on Royal 'Gossip' of Prince Harry and Meghan | This Morning

Is Meghan Markle really planning to run for President? Apparently so, according to Lady Colin Campbell’s new book, ‘Meghan and Harry: The Real Story’. Released on Thursday, the controversial ‘expose’ accuses the duchess of tempers, tantrums and ruthless ambition. And it even describes Harry as ‘desperate for love’. Lady C joins us from her castle to tell all, and to respond to claims that her book is purely based on ‘idle gossip’. Broadcast on 23/06/20

Ehrman-Licona Debate on Proving Jesus Rose from Dead

Bart Ehrman flew to Kansas City, Missouri where he debated Christian apologist Mike R. Licona on the topic, "Can Historians Prove that Jesus Rose from the Dead." Is there historical evidence that Jesus rose from the dead? The event took place on February 28, 2008 at 7 p.m. held at the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. R. Philip Roberts, the seminary's president and the debate's moderator commented previous of the event, "We are thrilled to have both Bart D. Ehrman and Mike R. Licona on campus addressing the questions many people ask these days. Apologetics, the science of defending the Christian faith, are very important. Our culture is looking for an answer. This is a wonderful opportunity for the Christian community and others to learn if the claims of Christ are defensible."

The debate is discussed in the book "Come Let Us Reason: New Essays in Christian Apologetics" edited by Paul Copan, William Lane Craig. Chapter 9 is written by Michael Licona, which reviews this debate extensively from his perspective.

Bolton Says He Hopes Trump Is 1-term President, Warns Country Imperiled by His Reelection

In New Interview Clip, Bolton Says He Could See 'Evidence' of Obstruction | ABC News

ABC's chief global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz discusses her interview with former national security adviser John Bolton and shares a new clip from the interview on "This Week."

Bolton Claims Trump Is ‘Stunningly Uninformed’ on Foreign Affairs

The former national security adviser tells Martha Raddatz that intelligence briefings did not occur daily during his time in the White House.

‘Unbelievable Scenes’: Hundreds of Party-goers Clash with Police, Loot Shops in German City

German authorities expressed shock Sunday over a rampage of an "unprecedented scale" overnight in the city centre of Stuttgart, where hundreds of party-goers ran riot, attacking police and plundering stores after smashing shop windows.

Will Trump Drag the World into WW3 in 2020? | Kalima Horra on Al Mayadeen

Trump Rally Fizzles as Attendance Falls Short of Campaign’s Expectations

THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Trump’s attempt to revive his re-election bid sputtered badly as he traveled to Tulsa for his first mass rally in months but found a small crowd and delivered a disjointed speech.

TULSA, Okla. — President Trump’s attempt to revive his re-election campaign sputtered badly on Saturday night as he traveled to Tulsa for his first mass rally in months and found a far smaller crowd than his aides had promised him, then delivered a disjointed speech that did not address the multiple crises facing the nation or scandals battering him in Washington.

The weakness of Mr. Trump’s drawing power and political skills, in a state that voted for him overwhelmingly and in a format that he favors, raised new questions about his electoral prospects for a second term at a time when his poll numbers were already falling. And rather than speak to the wide cross-section of Americans who say they are concerned about police violence and systemic racism, he continued to use racist language, describing the coronavirus as “Kung Flu.”

While the president’s campaign had claimed that more than a million people had sought tickets for the rally, the 19,000-seat BOK Center was at least one-third empty during the rally. A second, outdoor venue was so sparsely attended that he and Vice President Mike Pence both canceled appearances there. » | Michael D. Shear, Maggie Haberman and Astead W. Herndon | Saturday, June 20, 2020

Donald Trump Holds Rally in Tulsa amid Coronavirus Fears

Ugh ! – Mark

Prince Andrew: Top US Prosecutor Leading Inquiry into Epstein Links Refuses to Quit

THE OBSERVER: Geoffrey Berman says he will continue to investigate duke’s relationship with sex offender despite pressure to resign

The senior US prosecutor investigating links between Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein has vowed to carry on with his enquiries despite a dramatic attempt by the Trump administration to force him to resign.

In a late-night announcement on Friday, US attorney general William Barr declared Geoffrey Berman was stepping down, a development seen by critics as designed to benefit Trump politically and challenge the independence of the Justice Department.

But it also comes at a delicate time in the inquiry led by Berman, the US attorney in Manhattan, into Prince Andrew’s links to convicted sex offender Epstein.

Berman and the Duke of York have become embroiled in a series of public rows over what the US prosecutor alleges is his refusal to answer questions in their investigation into allegations of sex trafficking and other crimes against Epstein. » | Mark Townsend, Saturday, June 20, 2020

Christians Converted to Islam in Modern Mediterranean World – Noel Malcolm

A lecture by Noel Malcolm, Senior Researcher at the All Souls College (University of Oxford ), in the framework of the Aula Mediterrània 2019-2020 series of lectures.

The lecture was organised by the IEMed and the Master en Història i Identitats de la Mediterrània Occidental Segles XV-XIX, UB/Universitat d’Alacant/Universitat de València/Universitat Jaume I

The event was presented by Xavier Gil, Full Professor of Modern History (University of Barcelona).

John Bolton Book: Obstruction of Justice 'A Way of Life’ in Trump White House – Day That Was | MSNBC

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s new book contains several explosive accounts of President Trump’s behavior. Among them are statements that Trump appealed to China’s ruler Xi Jinping for help winning the next election, and that Trump did in fact directly tie aid to Ukraine to obtaining dirt on Trump’s political rivals. But why did Bolton save it for his book - which the Trump administration is now trying to block - instead of testifying at the impeachment trial? Impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff tweeted: “Bolton may be an author, but he’s no patriot.” Aired on 6/17/2020.

Dame Vera Lynn, Singer and 'Forces' Sweetheart', Dies Aged 103

THE GUARDIAN: Much-loved entertainer, whose voice brought Britain together during the second world war, has died

Dame Vera Lynn, whose song We’ll Meet Again became an anthem of hope and resilience during the second world war, has died aged 103.

Her family said they were “deeply saddened to announce the passing of one of Britain’s best-loved entertainers”, and that they were with her when she died at her East Sussex home.

Boris Johnson paid tribute, saying: “Dame Vera Lynn’s charm and magical voice entranced and uplifted our country in some of our darkest hours. Her voice will live on to lift the hearts of generations to come.” Labour politician Angela Rayner called Lynn “a beautiful person who will be sadly missed by all who her knew her”. » | Ben Beaumont-Thomas | Thursday, June 18, 2020


Dame Vera Lynn obituary »
The passing of a national treasure and legend. Requiescat in pace – Mark

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Vera Lynn, Singer Whose Wartime Ballads Uplifted U.K., Dies at 103 »

Trump Was Willing to Halt Criminal Investigations as 'Favor' to Dictators, Bolton Book Says

THE GUARDIAN: Trump pleaded with China’s Xi to help re-election effort / President urged Xi to build concentration camps for Muslims / White House has fought to stop book’s release

Donald Trump was willing to halt criminal investigations to “give personal favors to dictators he liked”, according to a new book written by his former national security adviser John Bolton.

After excerpts from the memoir, which is due to be published later this month, were printed in various news outlets, the Trump administration applied for an emergency temporary restraining order against Bolton on Wednesday night in an attempt to block the book’s release.

Trump himself tweeted that the book was “made up of lies & fake stories” and called Bolton a “disgruntled boring fool who only wanted to go to war”.

Bolton alleges that Trump pleaded with China’s President Xi Jinping to help him get re-elected by buying more US agricultural products, according to accounts of his forthcoming memoir.

In his pursuit of a good personal relationship with Xi, Trump is described as brushing aside human rights issues, even providing encouragement to the communist leader to continue to build concentration camps for China’s Muslim Uighur population. » | Julian Borger in Washington and Maanvi Singh in Oakland | Thursday, June 18, 2020

John Bolton’s bombshell Trump book: eight of its most stunning claims »

Reverend Reveals What Evangelicals Say Privately about Trump

Reverend Rob Schenck, a former evangelical activist, discusses President Trump's photo-op after police forcibly moved protesters and what evangelicals are now saying about Trump.

South Korea Promises to React Strongly If North Korea Furthers Tensions

South Korea says it will respond strongly if North Korea keeps raising tensions after Pyongyang blew up a liaison office in the border town of Kaesong. It comes after days of threats of military action by the North Korean leadership. Al Jazeera's Rob McBride reports from Seoul.

Pete Buttigieg: Supreme Court Ruling Is a Big Step Forward

Former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg reacts to the Supreme Court decision prohibiting discrimination against gay and transgender people.