Speedier approval of Trump nominees focus of Blunt proposal that moves forward in Senate

In a partisan vote, the Senate Rules Committee Wednesday approved new rules proposed by Sens. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and James Lankford, R-Okla., designed to expedite the approval of nominees to the courts and Trump administration.

The 10-9 vote came amidst a climate warmed by partisanship over recent decades. Republicans, including Blunt, accused Democrats of unprecedented obstructionism of President Donald Trump's nominees because they don't like the president.

Democrats countered with two words: "Merrick Garland."

The proposed changes come when several Democratic senators are also running for President. One, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., is the ranking Democrat on the Rules Committee, and as she sat next to Blunt at Wednesday's hearing, Blunt argued that his proposal to cut Senate debate time on many nominees from 30 to two hours would benefit a President Klobuchar.

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/speedier-approval-of-trump-nominees-focus-of-blunt-proposal-that/article_bbed19da-a1e1-5a9a-ac57-2e0e05fcdaa6.html

Netanyahu: Meetings in Warsaw With Arab Leaders Are in Pursuit of ‘War With Iran’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday, in what could be a possible gaffe, that his meetings with Arab leaders in Poland are in pursuit of "war with Iran."

The comments were made to reporters on the sidelines of the Warsaw Middle East ministerial following Netanyahu's meeting with the Sultanate of Oman's Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Yusuf bin Alawi.

"Here I am going to a meeting with 60 foreign ministers and envoys of countries from around the world against Iran," Netanyahu said. "What is important about this meeting—and this meeting is not in secret, because there are many of those—is that this is an open meeting with representatives of leading Arab countries, that are sitting down together with Israel in order to advance the common interest of war with Iran."

https://freebeacon.com/national-security/netanyahu-meetings-in-warsaw-with-arab-leaders-are-in-pursuit-of-war-with-iran/

What are Russia and Turkey preparing for Syria?

The 14thof February meeting in Sochi between the three Presidents (Russia, Turkey and Iran) is not expected to find solutions agreeable to all parties about the two main problem areas left in Syria: northeast Syria (Manbij to Qamishli/al-Hasaka), currently occupied by US forces, and Idlib city and its rural areas occupied by jihadist groups friendly to Turkey.

There are fundamentally different points of view. At the top of the agenda, the gathering is expected to have further discussions on a possible US withdrawal in the coming weeks – the month of April seems plausible – as announced by officials in Washington.

All parties are agreed, however, that US withdrawal is a priority and will be a relief to the Levant. Therefore, any step that help to reach this objective smoothly should be taken. Nevertheless, the main differences are triggered by the Russian desire and intention to conclude a “temporary deal” with Turkey over North-east Syria’s status after the US withdrawal. These differences are related to the price Syria should pay to see US forces out of the country.

https://ejmagnier.com/2019/02/12/what-are-russia-and-turkey-preparing-for-syria-a-disagreement-in-sochi/

The Oscar for Best Actor in a Drama goes to….

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6700077/Jussie-Smollett-cries-gives-interview-homophobic-racist-attack.html

House Democrats plan vast Russia probe

Mueller is just the beginning. House Democrats plan a vast probe of President Trump and Russia — with a heavy focus on money laundering —

that will include multiple committees and dramatic public hearings, and could last into 2020.

The state of play: The aggressive plans were outlined yesterday by a Democratic member of Congress at a roundtable for Washington reporters.

The member said Congress plans interviews with new witnesses, and may go back to earlier witnesses who "stonewalled" under the Republican majority.

Why it matters: The reporters, many of them steeped in the special counsel's investigation, came away realizing that House Dems don't plan to depend on

Robert Mueller for the last word on interference in the 2016 election.

Instead, Dems will use their new subpoena power to produce a voluminous exposé of their own.

Here's the congressional blueprint, as outlined by the member: [AS]?

At least three committees are already involved: The House Intelligence Committee is taking the lead, coordinating with House Financial Services

on money-laundering questions and with House Foreign Affairs on Russia.

Democrats are considering ways to uncover what was said in a Trump private meeting with Putin, "whether that's subpoenaing the notes or

subpoenaing the interpreter or other steps."

On Trump family finances, the member said the president is "not in a position to draw red lines."

https://www.axios.com/house-democrats-donald-trump-russia-investigation-05918127-c77a-424d-a805-cde8e67bffe9.html

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http://clerk.house.gov/public_disc/financial-search.aspx

‘Build the Wall’ & "Trump" jersey at Kings game sparks outrage. Wearer says it’s just for laughs

https://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article226148250.html

Amazon will pay $0 in federal income taxes for the second year in a row

Amazon, which doubled its profits and made more than $11 billion in 2018, won't pay any federal income taxes for the second year in a row, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy reported on Wednesday.

The company will not be required to pay the standard 21 percent income tax rate on its 2018 profits, and is claiming a tax rebate of $129 million, which ITEP describes as a "a tax rate of negative 1 percent."

https://theweek.com/speedreads/823590/amazon-pay-0-federal-income-taxes-second-year-row

Diocese: Covington Catholic students didn't instigate incident in Washington

The Diocese of Covington has sent a letter to parents at Covington Catholic High School stating students at the school didn't instigate what became a viral confrontation between several groups in Washington.

https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Diocese-Covington-Catholic-students-didnt-instigate-incident-in-Washington-505782521.html

Kamala Harris earns Four Pinocchios from the Washington Post for lying in tax tweet

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/02/13/kamala-harris-leaps-unwarranted-conclusions-tax-tweet/?utm_term=.c506a6a5a3eb&noredirect=on