Indeed!
Chuck Grassley says he expects Mueller report 'within a month'
Sen. Chuck Grassley said expects special counsel Robert Mueller will release a report on his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election “within a month.” "Within a month, if we see it," the Iowa Republican said while speaking to radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt on Tuesday.
Grassley, who serves on the Judiciary Committee and was its chairman last term, said he wants as much of the report made public as possible. He also expressed doubt that Mueller would find any collusion or conspiracy between Russia and President Trump's 2016 campaign. "I look at it from this standpoint. I don’t care what the report says," Grassley said. "We paid $25 million, maybe $35 million to do it, and the public ought to know what their $25 or $35 million bought. And except for national security and privacy of individuals, those would be understandably redacted, everything else, I think, ought to be out."
Trump said in a CBS interview that aired Sunday it would be up to his attorney general whether the report would be made public. William Barr, Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, said at his confirmation hearing last month that Mueller’s findings will be confidential but he supports releasing them to the public. "My objective and goal is to get as much as I can of the information to Congress and the public," he said. Neither Mueller or anyone on his team have publicly discussed when the investigation could wrap up and the findings could be released.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/chuck-grassley-says-he-expects-mueller-report-within-a-month
Feds: No evidence foreign meddling had 'material impact' on 2018 midterm elections
The U.S. government could find no evidence that foreign interference had a "material impact" on the 2018 midterm election infrastructure, according to a classified report compiled by the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security. DOJ and DHS released a statement Tuesday summarizing the report, which was delivered to President Donald Trump Monday. The report included information provided by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
“The departments have concluded there is no evidence to date that any identified activities of a foreign government or foreign agent had a material impact on the integrity or security of election infrastructure,” the statement said.
Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said federal officials worked with state, local, and private sector partners, including all 50 states and more than 1,400 local jurisdictions to commission the report. Late last year, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats issued a similar report saying the intelligence community found no evidence that foreign meddling affected the 2018 election infrastructure. Coats warned, however, that "Russia, and other foreign countries, including China and Iran, conducted influence activities and messaging campaigns targeted at the United States to promote their strategic interests." Federal officials say efforts to safeguard the 2020 elections are already underway. The inquiry into potential meddling in the 2018 midterm elections were triggered by an executive order from Trump, executed in September.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/feds-no-evidence-foreign-meddling-had-material-impact-on-2018-midterm-elections
Do you have sauce for this?
Joshua Trump to be One of President Trump’s Guests at State of the Union
A bullied 6th grader with the same last name as President Donald Trump will be one of the president’s guests at the State of the Union on Feb. 5. Joshua Trump, 11, of Delaware, has been bullied for years because of his last name. “He was being punched and bullied all because of his last name,” his mother, Megan Berto, wrote in a 2018 Facebook post. She said that her son was switched to a new bus in an attempt to stop the bullying. “I’d like to ask any parents who have children that ride those buses to please talk to them,” she added. “I had to sit down with my son and hear him tell me that he hates himself and that he feels sad all the time. Why is this ok? The school won’t tell you about this but I am asking you to please talk to your children. In an age where our children are depressed and suicidal don’t let your kid be a bully.”
Joshua was named as one of two child guests of President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, who has focused on anti-bullying efforts as part of her work as first lady. “Joshua Trump is a 6th grade student in Wilmington, Delaware. He appreciates science, art, and history. He also loves animals and hopes to pursue a related career in the future,” according to a short statement posted by the White House. “His hero and best friend is his Uncle Cody, who serves in the United States Air Force. Unfortunately, Joshua has been bullied in school due to his last name. He is thankful to the First Lady and the Trump family for their support.” Trump was set to meet with his guests on Tuesday prior to the speech. The guests will sit in the audience.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/joshua-trump-to-be-one-of-president-trumps-guests-at-state-of-the-union_2790718.html
Pope Says Vatican Open to Mediating in Venezuela if Both Sides Ask
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (Reuters) - Pope Francis said on Tuesday that the Vatican would be willing to mediate in Venezuela if both sides asked, but preliminary steps to try to bring them closer together should be taken first. Francis, speaking to reporters aboard his plane returning from a trip to Abu Dhabi, also confirmed that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had written a letter to him but that he had not yet read it. Maduro told Italian broadcaster Sky TG24 on Monday that he had sent the letter to the pope "for help in the process of facilitating and reinforcing dialogue".
Asked about a possible direct mediation effort by the Vatican, the pope said: "I will read the letter and see what can be done but the initial condition is that both sides ask for it. We are willing. Given the failure of previous rounds of dialogue, including one led by the Vatican, opponents are suspicious, believing Maduro uses them to quell protests and buy time. Francis added that a formal mediation should be seen as the last step in diplomacy. He said some preliminary steps had to be taken first by the Vatican and other members of the international community. He said this would include efforts to "to try to bring one (side) closer to the other, to start a process of dialogue".
The pope spoke as major European nations joined the United States in recognising opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate head of state, while members of a separate regional bloc kept up the pressure on Maduro.
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2019-02-05/pope-says-vatican-open-to-mediating-in-venezuela-if-both-sides-ask
Francis admits Vatican must do more to prevent abuse of Catholic sisters
ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM ABU DHABI — Pope Francis has admitted that the Vatican must do more to prevent the physical and sexual abuse of nuns and sisters by Catholic priests. In a press conference aboard the papal flight back to Rome after a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates, the pope said mistreatment of women religious is something the Vatican has been working to address "for some time." "Must something more be done?" the pope asked aloud. "Yes," he answered. "Do we have the will?" Francis then asked. "Yes," he answered.
Francis spoke about abuse of women religious in a half-hour press conference in which he also expressed openness to the Vatican stepping in to mediate in Venezuela, where the head of the country's national assembly has declared himself president after months of unrest over Nicolas Maduro's continuing leadership.
https://www.ncronline.org/preview/francis-admits-vatican-must-do-more-prevent-abuse-catholic-sisters