De Niro makes an early in-kind donation to the committee to re-elect Trump

The core message of President Trump’s 2016 campaign was that only he could take on the so-called elites to fight for working- and middle-class Americans.

It was a really, truly populist message. It took advantage of a simmering resentment for the public sector, as well as anger directed towards wealthy, coastal-dwelling Americans, many of whom work in the news and entertainment industries.

It also ignored that Trump himself is a coastal-dwelling member of the gilded class, a wealthy and well-known celebrity many times over. That Trump was able to sell himself as a nonelite, while getting voters to excuse his own background, was one of his greatest tricks.

The crazy thing is: His most ardent critics are doing the most to help him maintain his phony nonelite status.

That is, when Robert De Niro appeared this weekend at the 72nd Tony Awards to declare his opposition to Trump, it’s hard not to see the actor’s stakes-free moment of defiance as anything but an in-kind donation to the president’s re-election efforts.

The Trump team must greatly appreciate the image of room full of roaring glitterati cheering De Niro's protestations.

The 74-year-old actor appeared at the Tonys this weekend to reiterate for the umpteenth time his opposition to the president.

"I'm going to say this: F–k Trump!" he shouted. "It's no longer ‘down with Trump.' It's f–k Trump!"

The audience, which included top Broadway performers, as well as other entertainers from other mediums, leaped to their feet, clapping wildly to signal that they, too, believe all good Americans should "f–k Trump."

This isn’t new ground for De Niro. He is a known Trump critic, having referred to the president recently as a “congenital liar. A mean-spirited, soulless, amoral, abusive con-artist son of a bitch."

De Niro is also known for using profanities during awards ceremonies to denounce the president. In short, this crowd is pretty easily amused:

Here's video of DeNiro swearing at Trump on #TonyAwards

Australian feed didnt censor it. pic.twitter.com/KZNrT8UIyH

— Rhett Bartlett (@dialmformovies) June 11, 2018

If the image of De Niro, surrounded by whooping and cheering members of the elite class, denouncing the president doesn’t appear in a pro-Trump campaign ad, I’ll maybe consider eating my hat.

I dislike the “this is how you got Trump” cliche as much as the next writer, but there’s something to say here for the inefficacy of these self-indulgent celebrity protests.

Trump’s populist credentials rely on him not being seen as the extremely wealthy elite that he is. The man who quite literally lives in a golden tower in New York City needs working and middle class voters to believe he “gets it.” So, when actors, singers, songwriters, directors, dancers, et cetera come out in droves to denounce the president, and when they do so in as public and notable a fashion as De Niro, it only strengthens Trump’s position that he’s not with them.

These stupid, meaningless protests allow the president to rail against the so-called Hollywood and government elites.

It may not be true that Trump is himself removed from this group, but what else is the average voter supposed to believe when they see that basically every single person in the designated “elite” class hates the president?

It was a terribly self-indulgent gesture that did no good politically and marred the dignity of the rest of the evening. https://t.co/Ymk0zaQZQy

— Walter Shapiro (@MrWalterShapiro) June 11, 2018

https:// www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/robert-de-niro-makes-an-early-in-kind-donation-to-the-committee-to-re-elect-trump

Administration rallies for mandatory E-Verify to stop illegal employment

Hoping to kill a lure for illegal immigrants, top Trump administration officials are rallying behind the E-Verify system that requires employers to hire only legal U.S. workers or face a fine.

The heads of the Social Security Administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have endorsed the mandatory national use of the voluntary system as a way to curb illegal immigration and cut identity theft.

“I think that we need to look at E-Verify. I think E-Verify is a necessary tool because illegal employment is a magnet that pulls people into this country. So I think E-Verify should be mandated in this country across the board,” said ICE Acting Director Thomas Homan.

“Mandatory use of E-Verify by employers would help reduce the incidence of fraudulent use of [Social Security numbers],” added Nancy Berryhill, the Obama-era acting Social Security commissioner.

The calls for a mandatory E-Verify, run by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in a handful of states, are getting a boost from a new report showing that the program can be highly effective in cutting illegal immigration.

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Colorado-Boulder, looked at both U.S. and Mexican migrant documents to determine if the E-Verify system used in Arizona worked to cut illegal immigration.

In the end, they found it did.

“Policies affecting migrants’ job opportunities can be effective at deterring or reversing the flow of unauthorized migrants into the United States,” said the study provided to Secrets.

“For the first time, our study shows that state-level immigration restrictions in the United States were effective in deterring the flow of unauthorized migrants into this country,” said Brian K. Kovak, assistant professor of economics and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, who co-authored the study titled Measuring Geographic Migration Patterns Using Matrículas Consulares.

“Previous research had shown that state-level employment restrictions reduced the size of a state’s population of likely unauthorized individuals, but it wasn’t clear whether enforcement diverted migrants to other U.S. destinations or if these policies slowed international migration,” he added.

The study looked at migration from 2,000 Mexican communities into the U.S. based on Mexican identification cards given to those planning to return to the country.

In looking at immigration into and out of Arizona, the study found that after the state imposed worker rules such as E-Verify, fewer Mexican illegal immigrants returned.

“This reduction would likely be even stronger when coupled with the legal guest worker provisions included in recent proposals for comprehensive immigration reform,” said Brian Cadena, associate professor of economics at the University of Colorado-Boulder, the study’s other co-author.

Homan said tightening up worksite enforcement and using E-Verify would cut tax evasion by employers hiring illegal immigrants and identity theft by those who steal Social Security numbers to get hired.

“There’s more to this than just illegal employment,” he said at a National Press Club event last week. “There are a lot of criminal violations,” he said, adding that he believes penalties on employers should be “harsher.”

https:// www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/administration-rallies-for-mandatory-e-verify-to-stop-illegal-employment-1

>>1698786

He is one of the loudest voices, no doubt. I'm thinking, he thinks he can buy his way into leniency, maybe this has worked for those people in the past, those days are over, imo.

Jeff Sessions to set new limits on asylum claims Monday

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he would release a decision Monday aimed at limiting the reasons why people can claim asylum in the United States.

In a speech before immigration judges in Virginia, Sessions said the valid reasons for asylum have been stretched under the Immigration and Nationality Act. He said his decision is aimed at making sure asylum is granted only in cases outlined under U.S. law.

"Under the INA, asylum is available for those who leave their home country because of persecution or fear on account of race, religion, nationality or membership in a particular social group or political opinion," he said.

"Asylum was never meant to alleviate all problems, even all serious problems that people face every day all over the world," Sessions added.

"So today, I'm exercising the responsibility given to me under the INA, and I will be issuing a decision that restores strong principles of asylum and longstanding principles of immigration law," he said.

Sessions said he acted "carefully" on the decision, and said it would reflect a "correct interpretation of the law."

"It advances the original intent and purpose of the INA, and it will be your duty of course to carry that out," he said. "This decision will provide more clarity for you, it will help you to rule consistently, and all our judges to rule consistently throughout the country, and fairly."

Sessions said most asylum claims are later found by immigration judges to be invalid, and said the more the U.S. does to clarify the law and practice, the fewer illegal immigrants would make their way to the border.

"Clarity in law is the right thing," he said. "The world will know what our rules are, and great numbers will no longer undertake this dangerous journey. The number of illegal aliens and the number of baseless claims will fall. I'm confident that's true."

https:// www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/jeff-sessions-to-impose-limits-on-asylum-claims-monday

>>1698817

All I could think of was this:

What makes a great movie? Great Actors

Wondering if this is a message to that effect?

>>1698836

I forgot all about that, strange isn't it, could it be he has been acting all along, now some of the larger players, in Hollywood are being removed, so he's coming out?

>>1698857

About time right!

Pompeo: Talks with North Korea moving along 'rapidly' ahead of Trump-Kim summit

SINGAPORE – Mid-level talks between U.S. and North Korean officials have progressed "rapidly" ahead of President Trump's summit with Kim Jong Un, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters on Monday as those discussions were still taking place.

"Our ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim met today with [North Korean] Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui," Pompeo told reporters at a press conference Monday evening.

"They are moving quite rapidly and we anticipate they will come to their logical conclusion even more quickly than we anticipated," he said.

Members of the U.S. and North Korean delegations huddled at the Ritz Carlton hotel for several hours on Monday to discuss the terms of denuclearization.

"North Korea has previously confirmed to us its willingness to denuclearize, and we are eager to see if its words prove sincere," Pompeo said. He said he is hopeful Tuesday's summit "will have set the conditions for future productive talks" between Washington and Pyongyang.

Pompeo declined to provide details on what Trump could offer to Kim during their meeting that is now hours away, but said the U.S. is prepared "to take actions that will provide [North Korea with] sufficient certainty that they can be comfortable that denuclearization doesn't end badly for them."

"We are not going to conduct these negotiations in the open with the media," he said, before adding that "unique steps can be taken" to satisfy the Kim regime without providing sanctions relief.

"The ultimate objective we seek from diplomacy with North Korea has not changed," Pompeo told reporters, claiming that "complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korea peninsula is the only outcome that the United States will accept."

https:// www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/pompeo-talks-with-north-korea-moving-along-rapidly-ahead-of-trump-kim-summit

Devin Nunes to DOJ: Hand over docs on alleged FBI informant by Tuesday or it's 'obstruction'

June 10, 2018 11:11 PM (notice anything strange here:)

| Updated Jun 11, 2018, 11:51 PM

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes has set a Tuesday deadline for the Justice Department to provide documents related to an alleged FBI informant looking for suspicious ties to the Russians who spoke with members of President Trump's 2016 campaign.

In a letter sent to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on Friday, the California Republican demanded the documents be provided to all committee members "and designated staff," which would go beyond top members of Congress which have been invited to view material related to special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

"DOJ continues to obfuscate and delay its production using an array of tactics, such as incorrectly categorizing the requested documents as Gang-of-Eight-level material in order to limit access," Nunes wrote, according to Fox News. "Such conduct by DOJ is unacceptable because the Gang-of-Eight is a legal fiction that has no basis outside of the confines of Presidential approval and reporting of covert actions."

Refusal to comply with the demand to allow lawmakers and "designated staff" to view requested documents would be "an obstruction of a lawful Congressional investigation," Nunes added.

"I will not relent in my duties on behalf of the American public to discover all the facts in this matter," Nunes said at the end of the letter "Any response falling short of this request will be considered an effort to conceal material information from Congress – a dangerous precedent that threatens the core of our democracy."

The letter was sent after the Justice Department and FBI offered an additional briefing next week to members of the “Gang of Eight,” comprised of congressional leadership from both parties and the top members of the intelligence panels., who were briefed last month on classified intelligence information related to the Russia investigation. By extension, the briefings by top intelligence and law enforcement officials regarded the use of an informant.

While it was initially reported that the briefing was likely to happen Monday or Tuesday, a Justice Department spokesperson confirmed to the Washington Examiner that the briefing is scheduled for Thursday afternoon – after Nunes' deadline – where Rosenstein looks forward to providing "responsive" documents to Nunes and the other members of the Gang of Eight.

"The Deputy Attorney General is representing the United States in a brief unrelated visit to a foreign nation, one of America’s key intelligence partners. He, along with the FBI Director and DNI Coats, look forward to further briefing and again presenting responsive documents to Chairman Nunes and the rest of his colleagues in the Gang of 8 meeting scheduled for Thursday of this week," the spokesperson said.

Last week, a senior DOJ official said that some of the documents to be allowed for review were already made available the classified briefings that were already conducted, "but not inspected by the members at the previous briefing along with some additional material." The Gang of Eight will be allowed to review new documents that were not provided during the original May 24 briefing, the official added.

The briefing was offered to answer certain questions that have been raised by both House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and other members.

Reports about an informant sparked sharp rebukes from Trump and his allies, who conjured up the name of "spygate" while alleging that a "spy” — which by definition is different than a confidential source — was improperly sent to scope out his campaign for political purposes.

https:// www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/devin-nunes-doj-documents-alleged-fbi-informant-tuesday-obstruction

>>1699047

I certainly do, garden of "little flowers"

I wonder what will happen with them..

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visiting several Singapore attractions on Monday night

SINGAPORE - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is spending his second night in Singapore on a mini tour that includes some of the Republic's best-known sights such as Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) integrated resorts.

At around 9.10pm on Monday (June 11), his motorcade was seen leaving the St Regis Hotel in the Tanglin area where his delegation is being housed at, before driving past the Raffles City area towards Marina Bay.

Mr Kim, who arrived in Singapore on Sunday ahead of his historic summit with United States President Donald Trump in Sentosa on Tuesday, stopped by Gardens by the Bay first and is expected to also visit the MBS SkyPark or the nearby Merlion Park.

At around 8pm, the observation deck of the 57th-storey sky park at the MBS, which offers panoramic views of Marina Bay and the central business district, was closed off to the public, ahead of its usual 10pm timing.

MBS staff were seen polishing fingerprints off the glass panels of the observation deck. The Straits Times also saw a heavy security presence comprising MBS personnel and police officers.

Mr Kim, who is North Korea's Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, may also visit other sights such as the Esplanade performing arts centre.

The mini-city tour will cap a rather quiet public schedule for Mr Kim on Monday, compared to his officials and Mr Trump.

Apart from a meeting with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana on Sunday evening, Mr Kim has not been seen stepping out of the St Regis hotel in Orchard Road where he and his delegation are being housed at.

In contrast, Mr Kim's officials were seen earlier on Monday meeting with Singapore and American officials - making courtesy calls or engaging in last-minute talks over the one-day summit.

Mr Trump met PM Lee and also members of the American community in Singapore.

https:// www.straitstimes.com/singapore/north-korean-leader-kim-jong-un-visiting-several-singapore-attractions-on-monday-night

Trump-Kim summit: Trump to leave Singapore at 7pm on Tuesday

SINGAPORE - US President Donald Trump will depart Singapore at about 7pm local time on Tuesday (June 12) after his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un earlier in the day, said the White House.

Mr Trump will meet Mr Kim, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, on Tuesday at 9am at Sentosa's Capella hotel, it said in a statement on Monday night.

The two leaders will meet one-on-one for 45 minutes, following by an expanded bilateral meeting and a working lunch.

Mr Trump is expected to give a press conference at 4pm.

Last-minute talks between US and North Korean officials were held in Singapore on Monday to prepare for the summit at Capella Singapore on Sentosa island.

"Discussions between the United States and North Korea are ongoing and have moved more quickly than expected," the White House said in the statement.

The summit will be the first between a North Korean leader and a sitting US president.

"Following the initial greeting, President Trump and Chairman Kim will participate in a one-on-one meeting, with translators only, an expanded bilateral meeting, and a working lunch," said the statement.

The US delegation at the meeting will include Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Chief of Staff John Kelly, and National Security Adviser John Bolton.

Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, Ambassador Sung Kim, and National Security Council senior director for Asia Matt Pottinger will attend the working lunch.

Arriving in Singapore on Sunday, the US President met Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday. During a working lunch involving delegations from Singapore and the US on Monday, Mr Trump, who turns 72 on Thursday, was presented with a birthday cake.

https:// www.straitstimes.com/singapore/trump-kim-summit-trump-to-leave-singapore-at-7pm-on-tuesday

Trump-Kim summit: South Korea's Moon Jae In hopes for bold decisions and miraculous result

SEOUL - South Korean President Moon Jae In hopes US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will take "bold decisions" in their first meeting in Singapore on Tuesday (June 12), even though he acknowledges that denuclearisation of the North could be a "long process".

Mr Moon discussed the summit with Mr Trump in a 40-minute phone call on Monday, telling his US counterpart that South Koreans were praying for Mr Trump to "create a miraculous result" in the talks.

A successful summit would be a "great gift" to the whole world, Mr Moon was quoted as saying in a Blue House statement.

The Blue House is South Korea's presidential office and Mr Moon's comments came on the eve of the historic Trump-Kim summit in Singapore.

Mr Moon, in a meeting with key aides on Monday, said he hoped for a "significant agreement" at the summit to end hostile relations between the US and North Korea and kick-start the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

"It was the bold determination of the two leaders, President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un, that has enabled us to come this far," he said.

The South Korean leader was using Mr Kim's formal title of Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, North Korea's highest decision-making body.

Mr Moon noted that Mr Trump has "demonstrated his strong will" to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis, and that Mr Kim has "shown his sincerity for the success of the summit and commitment to denuclearisation by taking decisive, proactive action". This included the destruction of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in North Korea, added Mr Moon.

"I look forward to the two leaders' bold decisions to freely exchange what they want from each other so that the wish of people across the world for a new era on the Korean Peninsula could be realised," he said.

However, the South Korean leader cautioned that the deep-rooted hostility between the two sides and the nuclear issue could not be resolved through a single meeting between the two leaders.

He urged "sincere efforts" and cooperation among the US, the two Koreas and neighbouring countries, as well as a long-term approach towards denuclearisation that he said could take "one year, two years, or even longer".

President Moon also appealed for public support for concurrent efforts to improve inter-Korea relations. Military talks as well as discussions on humanitarian issues and sports exchanges were in the pipeline, he added.

"I ask the people to stand by us until the end so that we do not lose the conviction and determination that we are, under all circumstances, the key players on Korean Peninsula issues."

https:// www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/singapore-summit-south-koreas-moon-hopes-for-bold-decisions-and-miraculous-result

>>1699229

Thank you Q! Pleasure to help in anyway I can!

>>1699199

>>1699281

>>1699391

I thought I was seeing things a first, KEK

I am shocked :)

>>1699461

After what I have seen today, I am thinking that could be a definite possibility.

>>1699470

Indeed!