Facebook, Twitter to defend companies against charges of bias in elections

Facebook and Twitter executives plan to defend their companies in two congressional hearings, arguing they are aggressively trying to root out foreign actors who want to do the United States harm just weeks before the mid-term elections.

Twitter's CEO will also face angry Republicans who claim the companies have shown evidence of bias against conservatives.

In prepared testimony released ahead of a House hearing Wednesday afternoon, Jack Dorsey says his company does not use political ideology to make decisions.

Congress has sharply criticised the social media companies over the last year as it has become clear that they were at the forefront of Russia's interference in the 2016 elections and beyond.

That scrutiny has led to additional criticism over the companies' respect for user privacy and whether conservatives are being censored frustrations that are particularly heightened ahead of the mid-terms.

To avoid govt logjam, US strikes 2-yr budget deal to lift spending cap

The US Senate on Thursday reached a two-year budget deal to avert another government shutdown when federal funding is due to expire.The deal, agreed upon by both the Democratic and Republican leaders of the Senate, was immediately welcomed by the White House.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer announced the budget deal in the House."I am very pleased to announce that we have reached a two-year budget deal to lift the spending caps for defence and urgent domestic priorities far above current spending levels," Schumer said.He added that there were still a few final details to work out but all the principles of the agreement were in place.

I am a mentally stable genius, asserts Donald Trump

Unfazed by fierce criticism and fears over his "mental" health, US President Donald Trump on described himself as being a "genius".

"Now that Russian collusion, after one year of intense study, has proven to be a total hoax on the American public, the Democrats and their lapdogs, the Fake News Mainstream Media, are taking out the old Ronald Reagan playbook and screaming mental stability and intelligence," Trump tweeted.

Identifying "mental stability" and being "really smart" as his two greatest assets, Trump in a series of tweets said that winning the presidential election on his first attempt qualifies him as a "genius".

"Actually, throughout my life, my two greatest assets have been mental stability and being, like, really smart. Crooked Hillary Clinton also played these cards very hard and, as everyone knows, went down in flames," he said.

"I went from VERY successful businessman, to top TV Star to President of the United States (on my first try)," he said.

"I think that would qualify as not smart, but genius and a very stable genius at that!" he tweeted.

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Trump redoubles support for alleged sexual harasser for Alabama Senate race

President Donald Trump on Sunday redoubled his support for embattled Senate candidate Roy Moore, ignoring the sexual harassment allegations plaguing the ex-Alabama judge's campaign, even as Democrats moved to address harassment concerns afflicting their own party.

In an early-morning tweet, Trump said that Moore's rival in the Alabama race for a Senate seat, Democrat Doug Jones, was weak on crime, the military and immigration. For Alabamians to support him in next month's special election, the president said, "would be a disaster!".

Many members of Trump's Republican Party have withdrawn support for Moore, who is now 70, following multiple allegations that while in his 30s he molested or harassed teenage girls as young as 14.

But allegations of sexual harassment have plagued both of America's main political parties in recent weeks.

Democrat John Conyers, a celebrated civil rights leader who is the longest-serving member of Congress, announced he was stepping down from a leadership position as he battles similar claims.
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A year after Trump, women, minorities give groundbreaking wins to democrats

If the 2016 presidential election reflected a primal roar from disaffected white working class voters that delivered for President Trump and Republicans, Tuesday’s results showed the potential of a rising coalition of women, minorities, and gay and transgender people who are solidly aligning with Democrats.

A black transgender activist, Andrea Jenkins, was elected to the Minneapolis City Council. A Hispanic woman won the mayor’s race in Topeka, Kan. A Sikh man was elected mayor in Hoboken, N.J. Latina, Vietnamese and transgender female candidates won state legislative races. Black candidates were elected lieutenant governor in New Jersey and Virginia. A Liberian refugee in Helena, Mont., was elected mayor.

Mark Keam, a Korean-American Democrat who was re-elected on Tuesday to his seat in Virginia’s House of Delegates, said the wave of first-time minority candidates was a direct response to feeling snipped out of the American picture by Mr. Trump’s policies and divisive language.

“In Trump’s America, people are getting screwed and those getting screwed more than others are people who’ve never had a voice in the government,” Mr. Keam said. “Those are motivations a white guy wouldn’t have.”

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Trump's comments on violence includes white supremacists: White House

The US President Donald Trump's condemnation of the hatred this weekend in Virginia, also included the white supremacists who organised the "Unite the Right" rally, the White House said on Sunday.

"The president said very strongly in his statement (on Saturday) that he condemns all forms of violence, bigotry and hatred," Efe quoted a statement issued by the White House.

"Of course that includes white supremacists, KKK Neo-Nazi and all extremist groups," the White House added.

Trump has come under fire from Democrats and even members of his own Republican party for blaming "many sides" for Saturday's violence in Charlottesville and not explicitly pointing the finger at white supremacist groups.

Those organisations had organised a rally on Saturday in that university city of 50,000 inhabitants to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that had been considered a symbol of slavery and racism.

The planned midday Saturday rally was cancelled but clashes broke out with counter-protesters, one of whom -- a 32-year-old woman -- was killed when a car ploughed into a crowd of people.

Two Virginia state troopers who were monitoring the situation in the city also died when their helicopter crashed.
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US House to vote on Bill imposing sanctions on Russia, Iran, North Korea

The United States (US) House will vote on the bill agreed by Congressional Republicans and Democrats, that includes a package of sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea, thus making it harder for President Donald Trump to lift sanctions on Moscow.

The House will vote on the bill on Tuesday and the Senate is likely to take it up after that. The bipartisan agreement could send the new bill to President Trump by the end of the month. It was not immediately clear whether Trump would veto the bill, an action that would spark an outcry from both parties and risk a potential override with a two-thirds vote.

Democrats and some Republicans have expressed concerns that the US President is considering giving Russia back two compounds in Maryland and New York that were seized by the Obama administration in December.

The House is scheduled to leave for its August recess at the end of next week.

The bill limits Trump's power of easing sanctions on Russia, as it gives Congress power to veto any decision made by the President that would "significantly alter" US foreign policy in connection with Russia, Fox news reported.

The White House had objected to a key section of the bill that would mandate a congressional review if Trump attempted to ease or end the sanctions against Moscow.

"The legislation ensures that both the majority and minority are able to exercise our oversight role over the administration's implementation of sanctions," said Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the No. 2 House Democrat.
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US Budget impasse: 'Good shutdown' needed to fix 'mess', tweets Trump

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the US needs a "good shutdown" in September to fix a "mess" in the Senate, expressing frustration over the hurdles posed by the Democratic party in passing the budget proposed by him.

"The reason for the plan negotiated between the Republicans and Democrats is that we need 60 votes in the Senate which are not there!" Trump tweeted.

 Follow

Donald J. Trump 

✔@realDonaldTrump

The reason for the plan negotiated between the Republicans and Democrats is that we need 60 votes in the Senate which are not there! We....

6:31 PM - 2 May 2017

"We either elect more Republican Senators in 2018 or change the rules now to 51 per cent. Our country needs a good "shutdown" in September to fix mess!" the president tweeted.

Donald J. Trump 

✔@realDonaldTrump

either elect more Republican Senators in 2018 or change the rules now to 51%. Our country needs a good "shutdown" in September to fix mess!

6:37 PM - 2 May 2017

The ruling Republican party has a majority in the 100- member Senate. However, Trump needs 60 votes for the passage of his budget and financial bills, which the Republican party does not have. The Democrats are using this provision to block his budget and other legislative moves.

In his tweets, Trump indicated that if the Senate does not pass the budget that he has proposed, he is not willing to compromise.

In the absence of the budgetary passage of the Congress, the US Government would not have the authority to spend money including even paying salaries to its employees. As a result, the government might come to a stand still.

It was during the term of his predecessor that the government shutdown happened last time.

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Here's what Donald Trump has done in his first 100 days in office

Since FDR, a president’s first 100 days offer an important – if arbitrary – measure for evaluating success. While it is unlikely any executive will again match the productivity of Roosevelt, most scholars of the presidency agree that this period still matters for advancing an administration’s agenda.

It has been an unruly 100 days since President Donald Trump took the oath of office. His administration has been plagued with scandals, protests and a critical media with a renewed sense of purpose.

As a scholar of the presidency and the press, I’ve found the beginning of the Trump administration morbidly fascinating.

Despite his boasts, Trump’s legislative agenda appears to be stalled. As we approach day 100, many will point critically to the dearth of bills coming across Trump’s desk. However, focusing solely on legislation overlooks a thriving aspect of the Trump presidency: the use of unilateral powers like executive orders, memoranda and proclamations.

Trump goes it alone

Trump hit the ground running with a flurry of unilateral activity. This burst of direct actions may seem surprising in light of Trump’s past statements. In 2012, he took to Twitter to criticize President Obama for “constantly issuing executive orders that are major power grabs of authority.” According to the American Presidency Project, Trump has surpassed his power-grabbing predecessor in unilateral actions, and in less time.

Trump is clearly making a concerted effort to fulfill his campaign promises. In areas where he can act alone, Trump has made gestures – some symbolic, others more substantive – toward 14 of the 18 pledges outlined in his Contract with the American Voter. With a stroke of the pen, Trump attempted to reduce the number of people working for the government, “drain the swamp” and advance pipeline projects.
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