This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2016/sep/09/donald-trump-russia-tv-campaign-hillary-clinton
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Trump interview broadcast on Russian propaganda outlet – campaign live | Trump interview broadcast on Russian propaganda outlet – campaign live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 8.02pm BST | |
| 20:02 | |
| With T-minus thirty minutes until Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is expected to take the stage at the Value Voters Summit - basically the Christian Right’s version of the Gathering of the Juggalos, except instead of turning over cars they call for the criminalization of homosexuality - let’s turn back the clock to September 2015, when Trump was speaking to a much more skeptical audience... | |
| Trump, a thrice-married New York billionaire fond of high society and lavish living, has to appeal to the social conservatives who make up the GOP’s base. This does not come naturally. | |
| The unsteady nature of this awkward, fumbling relationship was made clear at the Values Voter Summit in Washington. | |
| On Friday, Trump brandished his Sunday school Bible at a crowd of thousands in a subterranean hotel ballroom. It was clear why he has yet to be embraced as the candidate of the religious right. In a speech which prompted his first boos from a conservative audience – because he called fellow candidate Marco Rubio “a clown” – Trump tried to appeal to social conservatives. It didn’t work. | |
| In front of an ardently anti-abortion crowd, his only reference to babies was as a description of establishment Republicans. He also left same-sex marriage unmentioned, hours before Kim Davis was scheduled to accept a “Cost of Discipleship award”. A county clerk from rural Kentucky, Davis refused to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples, a decision for which she was jailed. | |
| Aside from the context-less statement “freedom of religion, so important”, Trump’s pitch was to cast himself as a frontline fighter in the war against Christmas. | |
| “The word ‘Christmas’ – I love Christmas,” Trump said, repeating: “I love Christmas. | |
| “You go to stores now, you don’t see the word ‘Christmas’. It says ‘Happy Holidays’ all over. I say, ‘Where’s Christmas?’ I tell my wife: ‘Don’t go to those stores. I want to see Christmas. No, I want to see Christmas.’ And you know, other people can have their holidays, no. But Christmas is Christmas. I want to see ‘Merry Christmas’.” | |
| Trump pledged: “You’re going to see it if I get elected, I can tell you right now.” | |
| 7.46pm BST | |
| 19:46 | |
| A new Trump ad – not a phrase we find ourselves typing too frequently – says Hillary Clinton is failing veterans but that would not be the case if Trump were president. | |
| Here’s a transcript of the voiceover: | |
| In Hillary Clinton’s America, veterans are left behind, kept on long wait lists at VA hospitals, only to get second-rate medical care. It’s more of the same but worse. | |
| Donald Trump’s America will be great again and will be respected by all. Veterans are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. The VA reformed. Our soldiers treated like heroes. Change that makes America great again. Donald Trump for president. | |
| Trump leads Clinton by 19 points among active military and military veterans, according to polling published this week. That sounds pretty good but not so much when you consider May 2012 polling showing Mitt Romney leading Barack Obama among vets by 24 points. | |
| 7.00pm BST | 7.00pm BST |
| 19:00 | 19:00 |
| Trump charity gave $100,000 to group targeting Trump University prosecutor | Trump charity gave $100,000 to group targeting Trump University prosecutor |
| Who was the top recipient of funds from Donald Trump’s charitable foundation in 2014? Would you believe an activist group suing the New York attorney general who was suing Trump University for fraud? | Who was the top recipient of funds from Donald Trump’s charitable foundation in 2014? Would you believe an activist group suing the New York attorney general who was suing Trump University for fraud? |
| It appears that Trump gave $100,000, as charity, to an effort to take down a public official accusing him of fraud. The man who ran the activist group now works on the Trump campaign. | It appears that Trump gave $100,000, as charity, to an effort to take down a public official accusing him of fraud. The man who ran the activist group now works on the Trump campaign. |
| The revelation, reported by Yahoo, comes as questions build about a separate donation the Trump charity made to the Florida attorney general’s reelection effort in 2013. | The revelation, reported by Yahoo, comes as questions build about a separate donation the Trump charity made to the Florida attorney general’s reelection effort in 2013. |
| Reelecting attorneys general, or bringing federal lawsuits against them, does not count as charitable activity. | Reelecting attorneys general, or bringing federal lawsuits against them, does not count as charitable activity. |
| Michael Isikoff writes: | Michael Isikoff writes: |
| The size and timing of the donation to the Citizens United Foundation, an arm of the sprawling conservative network run by David Bossie, who is now Trump’s deputy campaign manager, could raise fresh questions about whether Trump has used his tax-exempt charity to further political and personal causes. [...] | The size and timing of the donation to the Citizens United Foundation, an arm of the sprawling conservative network run by David Bossie, who is now Trump’s deputy campaign manager, could raise fresh questions about whether Trump has used his tax-exempt charity to further political and personal causes. [...] |
| While the donation to Bossie’s group has been mentioned in some media accounts, what has gone unnoticed until now is a major project of Citizens United at the time: a lawsuit it filed that year — since dismissed by a federal judge — against [NY state attorney general Eric] Schneiderman, New York’s Democratic attorney general, over his efforts to require nonprofit groups such as Citizens United to disclose the identity of their donors under seal to the New York State Charities Bureau. | While the donation to Bossie’s group has been mentioned in some media accounts, what has gone unnoticed until now is a major project of Citizens United at the time: a lawsuit it filed that year — since dismissed by a federal judge — against [NY state attorney general Eric] Schneiderman, New York’s Democratic attorney general, over his efforts to require nonprofit groups such as Citizens United to disclose the identity of their donors under seal to the New York State Charities Bureau. |
| Schneiderman by then had become a major political nemesis of Trump... | Schneiderman by then had become a major political nemesis of Trump... |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.02pm BST | at 7.02pm BST |
| 6.40pm BST | 6.40pm BST |
| 18:40 | 18:40 |
| The Trump campaign has released a statement calling North Korea’s nuclear test “one more example of Hillary Clinton’s catastrophic failures as secretary of state”: | The Trump campaign has released a statement calling North Korea’s nuclear test “one more example of Hillary Clinton’s catastrophic failures as secretary of state”: |
| INBOX: Statement On North Korean Nuclear Test pic.twitter.com/9MPpACuzmA | INBOX: Statement On North Korean Nuclear Test pic.twitter.com/9MPpACuzmA |
| North Korea has continued development of its nuclear weapons program despite steadily tightening sanctions by the US and allies and increasing global isolation. Trump has said he would get China to fix the problem. That’s not a summarizing of his position, that’s it. This morning his campaign manager said he had a secret plan they can’t disclose. | North Korea has continued development of its nuclear weapons program despite steadily tightening sanctions by the US and allies and increasing global isolation. Trump has said he would get China to fix the problem. That’s not a summarizing of his position, that’s it. This morning his campaign manager said he had a secret plan they can’t disclose. |
| 6.33pm BST | 6.33pm BST |
| 18:33 | 18:33 |
| Texas congressman calls Clinton 'special needs' | Texas congressman calls Clinton 'special needs' |
| Texas Representative Louie Gohmert, who came to Washington playing the Tea Party piccolo, and who has a reputation for saying all kinds of crazy stuff about “terror babies” and Muslim Brotherhood members in the White House and death squads and asparagus, has said further crazy things about Hillary Clinton, this time to attendees of a values voters summit in Washington, DC, where Donald Trump is scheduled to appear later today. | Texas Representative Louie Gohmert, who came to Washington playing the Tea Party piccolo, and who has a reputation for saying all kinds of crazy stuff about “terror babies” and Muslim Brotherhood members in the White House and death squads and asparagus, has said further crazy things about Hillary Clinton, this time to attendees of a values voters summit in Washington, DC, where Donald Trump is scheduled to appear later today. |
| “You don’t make fun of people who are impaired, have special needs,” Gohmert, a Republican, said, continuing: | “You don’t make fun of people who are impaired, have special needs,” Gohmert, a Republican, said, continuing: |
| And whether you like it or not, Hillary Clinton has made clear she is mentally impaired. I get the impression that in law school and along the way she’s been very, very smart but i don’t know maybe it was the concussion, the fall back that she did. Or who knows, they won’t tell us what’s really going on with her. | And whether you like it or not, Hillary Clinton has made clear she is mentally impaired. I get the impression that in law school and along the way she’s been very, very smart but i don’t know maybe it was the concussion, the fall back that she did. Or who knows, they won’t tell us what’s really going on with her. |
| We need to be praying for Hillary Clinton. There’s special needs there. There’s mental impairment. | We need to be praying for Hillary Clinton. There’s special needs there. There’s mental impairment. |
| Louie Gohmert is – well we’re not about name-calling here – for example Louie Gohmert is too peripheral a figure to make senator John McCain’s shortlist of “wacko birds.” | Louie Gohmert is – well we’re not about name-calling here – for example Louie Gohmert is too peripheral a figure to make senator John McCain’s shortlist of “wacko birds.” |
| “Anderson, you’re better than this!” | “Anderson, you’re better than this!” |
| 5.16pm BST | 5.16pm BST |
| 17:16 | 17:16 |
| How’s that Senate takeover going for you, Democrats? | How’s that Senate takeover going for you, Democrats? |
| The Democrats need to nab at least four seats from Republicans, and elect Hillary Clinton president, to gain control of the senate next year, plus retain the seat held by retiring minority leader Harry Reid in Nevada, which is not a no-brainer. | The Democrats need to nab at least four seats from Republicans, and elect Hillary Clinton president, to gain control of the senate next year, plus retain the seat held by retiring minority leader Harry Reid in Nevada, which is not a no-brainer. |
| The way it’s supposed to work for the Democrats is for Democratic senate candidates to win in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and then maybe North Carolina or Pennsylvania or Florida. (Or maybe John McCain will lose in Arizona?) (Republican incumbent Rob Portman in Ohio has been posting impressive poll numbers.) | The way it’s supposed to work for the Democrats is for Democratic senate candidates to win in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and then maybe North Carolina or Pennsylvania or Florida. (Or maybe John McCain will lose in Arizona?) (Republican incumbent Rob Portman in Ohio has been posting impressive poll numbers.) |
| New Quinnipiac numbers make the Republicans look pretty good in four of those races: | New Quinnipiac numbers make the Republicans look pretty good in four of those races: |
| Eep. These new Quinnipiac numbers will make Dems sweat.FL: Rubio 50-43%NC: Burr 49-43%OH: Portman 51-40%PA: Toomey 46-45% | Eep. These new Quinnipiac numbers will make Dems sweat.FL: Rubio 50-43%NC: Burr 49-43%OH: Portman 51-40%PA: Toomey 46-45% |
| Would just be amazing if the Republicans held the Senate this year, with this map, while losing the presidential race. | Would just be amazing if the Republicans held the Senate this year, with this map, while losing the presidential race. |
| Also: BuzzFeed’s Andrew Kaczynski points out that Trump is running quite a ways behind down-ticket Republicans in the four states. | Also: BuzzFeed’s Andrew Kaczynski points out that Trump is running quite a ways behind down-ticket Republicans in the four states. |
| What if the Republicans had nominated someone else for president? | What if the Republicans had nominated someone else for president? |
| Trump v. candidatesFLRubio +7Trump-Clinton tiedOHPortman +11Trump +1NCBurr +6Trump -4PAToomey +1Trump -5 pic.twitter.com/1mkM7buyLs | Trump v. candidatesFLRubio +7Trump-Clinton tiedOHPortman +11Trump +1NCBurr +6Trump -4PAToomey +1Trump -5 pic.twitter.com/1mkM7buyLs |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.23pm BST | at 5.23pm BST |
| 4.56pm BST | 4.56pm BST |
| 16:56 | 16:56 |
| Clinton library releases 22 photos of Bill Clinton and Trump in 2000 | Clinton library releases 22 photos of Bill Clinton and Trump in 2000 |
| In compliance with a FOIA request by Politico, the Clinton presidential library has released photos of then-president Bill Clinton hanging out with Donald Trump at the 2000 US Open tennis tournament in Queens and at Trump Tower for a fundraiser. | In compliance with a FOIA request by Politico, the Clinton presidential library has released photos of then-president Bill Clinton hanging out with Donald Trump at the 2000 US Open tennis tournament in Queens and at Trump Tower for a fundraiser. |
| Friday caption contest. https://t.co/HtpMU3Xr7K pic.twitter.com/t0FaFQ4zRh | Friday caption contest. https://t.co/HtpMU3Xr7K pic.twitter.com/t0FaFQ4zRh |
| They look like pals. In one image, Clinton stands with his arm around then-Trump-girlfriend Melania Knauss, with Trump next to him with his arm around an unidentified woman wearing a Playboy T-shirt. | They look like pals. In one image, Clinton stands with his arm around then-Trump-girlfriend Melania Knauss, with Trump next to him with his arm around an unidentified woman wearing a Playboy T-shirt. |
| Politico: | Politico: |
| The 22 images were taken by official White House photographers in June 2000 during a visit the president paid to Trump Tower in New York City for a political fundraiser, and in September 2000 during the U.S. Open tennis tournament in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. [...] | The 22 images were taken by official White House photographers in June 2000 during a visit the president paid to Trump Tower in New York City for a political fundraiser, and in September 2000 during the U.S. Open tennis tournament in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. [...] |
| “I didn’t know him that well,” Clinton said last year. “I mean, I knew him. I knew him and I happened to be planning to be in Florida and I thought it’d be fun to go to his wedding, because it’s always entertaining.” | “I didn’t know him that well,” Clinton said last year. “I mean, I knew him. I knew him and I happened to be planning to be in Florida and I thought it’d be fun to go to his wedding, because it’s always entertaining.” |
| Read further. | Read further. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.01pm BST | at 5.01pm BST |
| 4.46pm BST | 4.46pm BST |
| 16:46 | 16:46 |
| Here’s some fresh Hillary Clinton propaganda which we have to call that because it’s touching and human in a way that threatens the carapace of cynicism without which one might fear for one’s survival in this particular election year. | Here’s some fresh Hillary Clinton propaganda which we have to call that because it’s touching and human in a way that threatens the carapace of cynicism without which one might fear for one’s survival in this particular election year. |
| Here’s what Clinton’s communications director would like you to take away from the viewing experience: | Here’s what Clinton’s communications director would like you to take away from the viewing experience: |
| This is what people who know her mean when they say "if you only knew the Hillary I know." https://t.co/FJhieIdBnP | This is what people who know her mean when they say "if you only knew the Hillary I know." https://t.co/FJhieIdBnP |
| NB we are ready to post the concomitant fresh Trump propaganda, for the appraisal of you the reader, as soon as it crosses our transom. | NB we are ready to post the concomitant fresh Trump propaganda, for the appraisal of you the reader, as soon as it crosses our transom. |
| 4.21pm BST | 4.21pm BST |
| 16:21 | 16:21 |
| Bill Clinton: 'If you're a white southerner' you know what Trump means | Bill Clinton: 'If you're a white southerner' you know what Trump means |
| Bill Clinton, the Arkansas native and former governor who won Appalachia and Georgia at Carter ’76 levels, has said that Trump’s slogan “make America great again” is racist dog whistling: | Bill Clinton, the Arkansas native and former governor who won Appalachia and Georgia at Carter ’76 levels, has said that Trump’s slogan “make America great again” is racist dog whistling: |
| “That message – I’ll give you America great again – if you’re a white southerner, you know exactly what it means, don’t you?” Clinton said to an audience in Orlando Thursday: | “That message – I’ll give you America great again – if you’re a white southerner, you know exactly what it means, don’t you?” Clinton said to an audience in Orlando Thursday: |
| It means I’ll give you the economy you had 50 years ago and I’ll move you back up the social totem pole and other people down,. What Hillary wants to do is take the totem pole down and let us all go forward together! | It means I’ll give you the economy you had 50 years ago and I’ll move you back up the social totem pole and other people down,. What Hillary wants to do is take the totem pole down and let us all go forward together! |
| Watch the video on the Real Clear Politics site. | Watch the video on the Real Clear Politics site. |
| 4.01pm BST | 4.01pm BST |
| 16:01 | 16:01 |
| North Carolina, whose 15 electoral votes are up for grabs, is already sending out absentee ballots to voters who’ve requested them. University of Florida professor Michael McDonald tracks early voting: | North Carolina, whose 15 electoral votes are up for grabs, is already sending out absentee ballots to voters who’ve requested them. University of Florida professor Michael McDonald tracks early voting: |
| Of the 28,187 NC ballots sent as of today:37.5% Dem34.7% Rep27.6% Unaffiliated0.3% Lib | Of the 28,187 NC ballots sent as of today:37.5% Dem34.7% Rep27.6% Unaffiliated0.3% Lib |
| That’s a lot more ballots sent out early than in 2012, but McDonald warns against jumping to conclusions based on those figures: | That’s a lot more ballots sent out early than in 2012, but McDonald warns against jumping to conclusions based on those figures: |
| Also, these are just the ballots sent to voters. Trust more the returned ballots statistics. Those are actual votes | Also, these are just the ballots sent to voters. Trust more the returned ballots statistics. Those are actual votes |
| Thirty-six states plus Washington, DC, have some form of early voting, which is becoming more popular; about one in three ballots this year are expected to be cast early. | Thirty-six states plus Washington, DC, have some form of early voting, which is becoming more popular; about one in three ballots this year are expected to be cast early. |
| 3.38pm BST | 3.38pm BST |
| 15:38 | 15:38 |
| A new Hillary Clinton campaign ad rebuts Donald Trump’s assertion that he alone can fix all that’s gone wrong with America. | A new Hillary Clinton campaign ad rebuts Donald Trump’s assertion that he alone can fix all that’s gone wrong with America. |
| If you don’t remember Trump creepily saying that, it might be time to relive the climactic moment of the Republican national convention. | If you don’t remember Trump creepily saying that, it might be time to relive the climactic moment of the Republican national convention. |
| In Clinton’s new ad, she says, “Donald Trump says he alone can fix the problems we face. Well I don’t believe that’s how you get things done in our country.” | In Clinton’s new ad, she says, “Donald Trump says he alone can fix the problems we face. Well I don’t believe that’s how you get things done in our country.” |
| She lists solutions achieved through cooperation including health care for kids, the rebuilding of New York City after 9/11 and arms agreements with Russia. | She lists solutions achieved through cooperation including health care for kids, the rebuilding of New York City after 9/11 and arms agreements with Russia. |
| “We’ve got to bring people together. That’s how you solve problems, and that’s what I’ll do, as president,” she concludes. | “We’ve got to bring people together. That’s how you solve problems, and that’s what I’ll do, as president,” she concludes. |
| 3.23pm BST | 3.23pm BST |
| 15:23 | 15:23 |
| Facebook co-founder dumps $20m on Democrats | Facebook co-founder dumps $20m on Democrats |
| A co-founder of Facebook said to be worth around $10bn (50 times more than Donald Trump? 100 times more?) has just announced donations to multiple Democratic groups. Among Dustin Moskovitz’s aims is electing Hillary Clinton, whom he apparently has never met, president. | A co-founder of Facebook said to be worth around $10bn (50 times more than Donald Trump? 100 times more?) has just announced donations to multiple Democratic groups. Among Dustin Moskovitz’s aims is electing Hillary Clinton, whom he apparently has never met, president. |
| Moskovitz was college roommates with Mark Zuckerberg and just became, it looks like, the third-biggest Democratic donor out there. | Moskovitz was college roommates with Mark Zuckerberg and just became, it looks like, the third-biggest Democratic donor out there. |
| In a statement on Medium, Moskovitz and his wife, whose cool name is Cari Tuna, and who together are noted and precocious philanthropists, said they feel hesitant to try to buy elections but the “fear and hostility” with which the Republicans have conducted this campaign has compelled them to act: | In a statement on Medium, Moskovitz and his wife, whose cool name is Cari Tuna, and who together are noted and precocious philanthropists, said they feel hesitant to try to buy elections but the “fear and hostility” with which the Republicans have conducted this campaign has compelled them to act: |
| This decision was not easy, particularly because we have reservations about anyone using large amounts of money to influence elections. We hope these efforts make it a little more likely that Secretary Clinton is able to pursue the agenda she’s outlined, and serve as a signal to the Republican Party that by running this kind of campaign — one built on fear and hostility — and supporting this kind of candidate, they compel people to act in response. | This decision was not easy, particularly because we have reservations about anyone using large amounts of money to influence elections. We hope these efforts make it a little more likely that Secretary Clinton is able to pursue the agenda she’s outlined, and serve as a signal to the Republican Party that by running this kind of campaign — one built on fear and hostility — and supporting this kind of candidate, they compel people to act in response. |
| I just published “Compelled to Act” https://t.co/O55CV174eo We’re committing $20M to help Democrats in the 2016 election. | I just published “Compelled to Act” https://t.co/O55CV174eo We’re committing $20M to help Democrats in the 2016 election. |
| @hobbitj @teddyschleifer I have not yet met them, but hope to soon. We asked for nothing, but I accept that many won't believe it. | @hobbitj @teddyschleifer I have not yet met them, but hope to soon. We asked for nothing, but I accept that many won't believe it. |
| 3.11pm BST | 3.11pm BST |
| 15:11 | 15:11 |
| It’s the question everyone in US politics is trying to answer right now: who’s better, Obama or Putin? | It’s the question everyone in US politics is trying to answer right now: who’s better, Obama or Putin? |
| Donald Trump’s daring to say Putin, a notion elected Republicans won’t touch with a ten-foot pole, has given cover for other closet admirers of the Russian strongman to come out of the closet. | Donald Trump’s daring to say Putin, a notion elected Republicans won’t touch with a ten-foot pole, has given cover for other closet admirers of the Russian strongman to come out of the closet. |
| Indiana governor / Trump No. 2 Mike Pence, for example, told CNN Thursday evening that of course Putin is a stronger leader than Obama: | Indiana governor / Trump No. 2 Mike Pence, for example, told CNN Thursday evening that of course Putin is a stronger leader than Obama: |
| I think it’s inarguable that Vladimir Putin has been a stronger leader in his country than Barack Obama has been in this country. And that’s going to change the day that Donald Trump becomes president | I think it’s inarguable that Vladimir Putin has been a stronger leader in his country than Barack Obama has been in this country. And that’s going to change the day that Donald Trump becomes president |
| Noted conservative talk show Hugh Hewitt serves up this analysis: | Noted conservative talk show Hugh Hewitt serves up this analysis: |
| Putin's an evil man. POTUS a good but incompetent man. Putin has served his country's national interest better. https://t.co/6R2N0dajHM | Putin's an evil man. POTUS a good but incompetent man. Putin has served his country's national interest better. https://t.co/6R2N0dajHM |
| Former Obamanistas and sympathetic progressives are arguing with Hewitt about it: | Former Obamanistas and sympathetic progressives are arguing with Hewitt about it: |
| So Russia's interests are murdered journalists, shot down jetliners, a tanked economy, and global isolation? https://t.co/nfOC2Nt16D | So Russia's interests are murdered journalists, shot down jetliners, a tanked economy, and global isolation? https://t.co/nfOC2Nt16D |
| He's excelled in evil. Great leader. Very strong. https://t.co/GsrV3Xz7fV | He's excelled in evil. Great leader. Very strong. https://t.co/GsrV3Xz7fV |
| Putin’s not the only controversial entry on Hewitt’s top-leaders list: | Putin’s not the only controversial entry on Hewitt’s top-leaders list: |
| 3. When Nixon met with Mao it didn't make Mao any less the greatest murderer of post WW 2 era, but most historians rank him effective leader | 3. When Nixon met with Mao it didn't make Mao any less the greatest murderer of post WW 2 era, but most historians rank him effective leader |
| *Obama bows to foreign leader*GOP: TREASON*Trump praises Putin, criticizes US on Russia TV*GOP: If you close your eyes, he’s like Reagan | *Obama bows to foreign leader*GOP: TREASON*Trump praises Putin, criticizes US on Russia TV*GOP: If you close your eyes, he’s like Reagan |
| Update: for further reading: | Update: for further reading: |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.25pm BST | at 3.25pm BST |
| 1.31pm BST | 1.31pm BST |
| 13:31 | 13:31 |
| Hello and welcome to our live-wire coverage of the 2016 race for the White House. Donald Trump has done a call-in interview for Russian propaganda outlet RT, which used to stand for Russia Today, slamming the US media and criticizing US foreign policy. | Hello and welcome to our live-wire coverage of the 2016 race for the White House. Donald Trump has done a call-in interview for Russian propaganda outlet RT, which used to stand for Russia Today, slamming the US media and criticizing US foreign policy. |
| In Trump’s defense, the interview was with eternal TV host Larry King, an old Trump pal and probably not a fifth columnist. On the other hand, Trump’s untiring admiration for Russia – which Hillary Clinton yesterday called “scary”, “dangerous”, “bizarre” and “astonishing” – threatens to become a political liability, as he is running for president of the USA. | In Trump’s defense, the interview was with eternal TV host Larry King, an old Trump pal and probably not a fifth columnist. On the other hand, Trump’s untiring admiration for Russia – which Hillary Clinton yesterday called “scary”, “dangerous”, “bizarre” and “astonishing” – threatens to become a political liability, as he is running for president of the USA. |
| Here’s the interview: | Here’s the interview: |
| The Trump campaign explained that Trump did not know whom he was doing the interview with. | The Trump campaign explained that Trump did not know whom he was doing the interview with. |
| “He...did an intw w Larry King, a personal friend of his… He didn’t know it would be on Russian TV.”@kellyannepolls on Trump’s intw on RT | “He...did an intw w Larry King, a personal friend of his… He didn’t know it would be on Russian TV.”@kellyannepolls on Trump’s intw on RT |
| Trump’s coziness with the Russians is making Republican lawmakers nervous, as CNN’s Manu Raju demonstrates: | Trump’s coziness with the Russians is making Republican lawmakers nervous, as CNN’s Manu Raju demonstrates: |
| Congressional Republicans ducking questions about Trump’s kind words for Putin. Such a great package from @mkraju: https://t.co/2XCioRhuAG | Congressional Republicans ducking questions about Trump’s kind words for Putin. Such a great package from @mkraju: https://t.co/2XCioRhuAG |
| Trump’s interview with Russian TV aired as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange went on Fox News to tell host Sean Hannity that the organization is working “around the clock” to prepare documents relating to Clinton’s campaign for release. In July, WikiLeaks published internal Democratic emails obtained through hacking in which Moscow figures as a prime suspect. | Trump’s interview with Russian TV aired as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange went on Fox News to tell host Sean Hannity that the organization is working “around the clock” to prepare documents relating to Clinton’s campaign for release. In July, WikiLeaks published internal Democratic emails obtained through hacking in which Moscow figures as a prime suspect. |
| Elsewhere, Guardian national security editor Spencer Ackerman reports that the man at the center of the US Senate’s landmark investigation of the CIA torture program has gone public for the first time about an experience that led to the CIA spying on him as part of what he calls a “failed coverup”: | Elsewhere, Guardian national security editor Spencer Ackerman reports that the man at the center of the US Senate’s landmark investigation of the CIA torture program has gone public for the first time about an experience that led to the CIA spying on him as part of what he calls a “failed coverup”: |
| For six years, Daniel Jones was the chief investigator for the Senate intelligence committee’s inquiry into CIA detentions and interrogations carried out in the post-9/11 Bush era. Jones and his team turned 6.3m pages of internal CIA documents into a scathing study which concluded that torture was ineffective and that the CIA had lied about it to two presidents, Congress and the US public. | For six years, Daniel Jones was the chief investigator for the Senate intelligence committee’s inquiry into CIA detentions and interrogations carried out in the post-9/11 Bush era. Jones and his team turned 6.3m pages of internal CIA documents into a scathing study which concluded that torture was ineffective and that the CIA had lied about it to two presidents, Congress and the US public. |
| But before Jones’s investigation was released in December 2014, the CIA searched through Senate files on a shared, firewalled network which had been set up by the agency for Jones and his team to securely receive classified documents. | But before Jones’s investigation was released in December 2014, the CIA searched through Senate files on a shared, firewalled network which had been set up by the agency for Jones and his team to securely receive classified documents. |
| The CIA accessed Jones’s work and even reconstructed his emails, sparking an unprecedented clash between the agency and its legislative overseers on Capitol Hill. | The CIA accessed Jones’s work and even reconstructed his emails, sparking an unprecedented clash between the agency and its legislative overseers on Capitol Hill. |
| Read further: | Read further: |
| Trump attends a value voters summit in Washington DC today and has an event this evening in Pensacola, Florida. Clinton will host a “working meeting” in New York with a bipartisan team of national security experts. | Trump attends a value voters summit in Washington DC today and has an event this evening in Pensacola, Florida. Clinton will host a “working meeting” in New York with a bipartisan team of national security experts. |
| Thanks for reading and please join us in the comments. | Thanks for reading and please join us in the comments. |
| Before giraffes mate do they neck?#ItsMy2Cents | Before giraffes mate do they neck?#ItsMy2Cents |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.39pm BST | at 1.39pm BST |