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Shep Smith out at Fox News after clashing with colleagues over Trump-Ukraine scandal – live Shep Smith out at Fox News after clashing with colleagues over Trump-Ukraine scandal – live
(32 minutes later)
It sounds like the Trump campaign is ignoring the Prince estate’s demand that it stop using his music at campaign events.
"Purple Rain" was played again tonight at the president's rally in Louisiana. https://t.co/C8vFRVCSMc
The justice department has waded into Trump’s fight to continue concealing his tax returns by filing a brief supporting the president’s appeal of a Monday court ruling, the New York Times reports.The justice department has waded into Trump’s fight to continue concealing his tax returns by filing a brief supporting the president’s appeal of a Monday court ruling, the New York Times reports.
The case stems from efforts by Manhattan district attorney Cy Vance to subpoena Trump’s tax returns as part of an investigation into the hush-money payments made to Stormy Daniels during Trump’s campaign.The case stems from efforts by Manhattan district attorney Cy Vance to subpoena Trump’s tax returns as part of an investigation into the hush-money payments made to Stormy Daniels during Trump’s campaign.
Trump sued to stop the subpoena, but on Monday a federal judge rejected his arguments, calling them “repugnant to the nation’s governmental structure and constitutional values”.Trump sued to stop the subpoena, but on Monday a federal judge rejected his arguments, calling them “repugnant to the nation’s governmental structure and constitutional values”.
Trump is now appealing that decision, and today the justice department filed a brief in his support.Trump is now appealing that decision, and today the justice department filed a brief in his support.
The appeals court will hear arguments on 23 October.The appeals court will hear arguments on 23 October.
Michael McKinley, a career foreign service officer and the de facto chief of staff to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, announced his resignation on Friday, the AP reports.Michael McKinley, a career foreign service officer and the de facto chief of staff to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, announced his resignation on Friday, the AP reports.
McKinley’s departure adds to what the AP describes as “tumult in the State Department over the Trump administration’s handling of Ukraine and treatment of diplomats”.McKinley’s departure adds to what the AP describes as “tumult in the State Department over the Trump administration’s handling of Ukraine and treatment of diplomats”.
Per the AP:Per the AP:
Michael McKinley announced his retirement after a nearly four-decade career as an American diplomat. McKinley told colleagues he was leaving for personal reasons, and officials did not directly link his departure to the Ukraine situation that is now at the center of an impeachment probe.Michael McKinley announced his retirement after a nearly four-decade career as an American diplomat. McKinley told colleagues he was leaving for personal reasons, and officials did not directly link his departure to the Ukraine situation that is now at the center of an impeachment probe.
McKinley’s resignation took effect Friday, the same day the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine told congressional investigators that she had been removed from her post due to political pressure from the White House.McKinley’s resignation took effect Friday, the same day the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine told congressional investigators that she had been removed from her post due to political pressure from the White House.
Beto O’Rourke says that he raised $4.5m in the past three months, CNN reports.Beto O’Rourke says that he raised $4.5m in the past three months, CNN reports.
The total ranks him ninth among the Democratic presidential candidates, who are, in order of the total raised in the third quarter:The total ranks him ninth among the Democratic presidential candidates, who are, in order of the total raised in the third quarter:
Bernie SandersBernie Sanders
Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth Warren
Pete ButtigiegPete Buttigieg
Joe BidenJoe Biden
Kamala HarrisKamala Harris
Andrew YangAndrew Yang
Cory BookerCory Booker
Amy KlobucharAmy Klobuchar
Beto O’RourkeBeto O’Rourke
Marianne WilliamsonMarianne Williamson
Steve BullockSteve Bullock
Michael BennetMichael Bennet
Tom SteyerTom Steyer
These self-reported announcements only give us the topline numbers for fundraising information. Stay tuned for next week, when the candidates file their disclosures with the FEC and we’ll be able to bring you much more analysis of who these donors are.These self-reported announcements only give us the topline numbers for fundraising information. Stay tuned for next week, when the candidates file their disclosures with the FEC and we’ll be able to bring you much more analysis of who these donors are.
Schrödinger’s personal attorney...Schrödinger’s personal attorney...
"Yes," Giuliani just texted me, when I asked if he was still representing Trump. https://t.co/000Hig2frt"Yes," Giuliani just texted me, when I asked if he was still representing Trump. https://t.co/000Hig2frt
Hello everyone, this is Julia Carrie Wong in San Francisco picking up the live blog for the rest of this busy Friday.Hello everyone, this is Julia Carrie Wong in San Francisco picking up the live blog for the rest of this busy Friday.
Adam Schiff, the chair of the House intelligence committee, has written a letter to house Democrats describing the progress thus far in the impeachment inquiry and promising that the process will “accelerate”.Adam Schiff, the chair of the House intelligence committee, has written a letter to house Democrats describing the progress thus far in the impeachment inquiry and promising that the process will “accelerate”.
Schiff just sent this letter to House Dems updating them on the impeachment inquiry, promising to “continue & accelerate our efforts” when lawmakers return to Washington next week.Also says “we have been working urgently and with purpose, and we are making substantial progress” pic.twitter.com/QGPSPLwMoLSchiff just sent this letter to House Dems updating them on the impeachment inquiry, promising to “continue & accelerate our efforts” when lawmakers return to Washington next week.Also says “we have been working urgently and with purpose, and we are making substantial progress” pic.twitter.com/QGPSPLwMoL
The letter notes that depositions are scheduled for the following witnesses:The letter notes that depositions are scheduled for the following witnesses:
Dr Fiona Hill, former National Security Council director for European and Russian affairs,Dr Fiona Hill, former National Security Council director for European and Russian affairs,
George Kent, deputy assistant secretary of state, who oversees policy on Ukraine and other countries,George Kent, deputy assistant secretary of state, who oversees policy on Ukraine and other countries,
Gordon Sondlond, ambassador to the EU, andGordon Sondlond, ambassador to the EU, and
T Ulrich Brechbuhl, counselor of the state departmentT Ulrich Brechbuhl, counselor of the state department
Schiff added that additional witnesses will be announced in the coming days.Schiff added that additional witnesses will be announced in the coming days.
That’s it from me this week. My west coast colleague, Julia Carrie Wong, will take over the blog for the next few hours.That’s it from me this week. My west coast colleague, Julia Carrie Wong, will take over the blog for the next few hours.
Here’s where the day stands so far:Here’s where the day stands so far:
The Democratic chairmen of the House committees leading the impeachment inquiry said that the state department (at the direction of the White House) told Maria Yovanovitch not to testify, an order that the the former US ambassador to Ukraine defied.The Democratic chairmen of the House committees leading the impeachment inquiry said that the state department (at the direction of the White House) told Maria Yovanovitch not to testify, an order that the the former US ambassador to Ukraine defied.
Yovanovitch said in her opening statement to the House committees that she was told Trump placed pressure on the state department to recall her.Yovanovitch said in her opening statement to the House committees that she was told Trump placed pressure on the state department to recall her.
Shep Smith, the Fox News anchor who has repeatedly criticized Trump, announced that he was resigning.Shep Smith, the Fox News anchor who has repeatedly criticized Trump, announced that he was resigning.
Trump announced that the US and China have reached a “phase one” agreement on a trade deal, but it has not yet been written. The administration added that the new tariffs on Chinese imports, which were set to go into effect on Tuesday, had been canceled.Trump announced that the US and China have reached a “phase one” agreement on a trade deal, but it has not yet been written. The administration added that the new tariffs on Chinese imports, which were set to go into effect on Tuesday, had been canceled.
The Trump administration suffered multiple legal defeats. Namely, a federal appeals court upheld House Democrats’ subpoena for the president’s financial records, and two of Trump’s controversial immigration policies were blocked by judges.The Trump administration suffered multiple legal defeats. Namely, a federal appeals court upheld House Democrats’ subpoena for the president’s financial records, and two of Trump’s controversial immigration policies were blocked by judges.
The Pentagon announced it would send more troops to Saudi Arabia, despite Trump’s insistence this week that he was withdrawing troops from northern Syria to reduce America’s military presence in the Middle East.The Pentagon announced it would send more troops to Saudi Arabia, despite Trump’s insistence this week that he was withdrawing troops from northern Syria to reduce America’s military presence in the Middle East.
Julia will have more on the news of the day, so stay tuned.Julia will have more on the news of the day, so stay tuned.
Trump did not seem very heartbroken at the news that Shep Smith, whom the president has repeatedly slammed for criticizing him, was leaving Fox News.Trump did not seem very heartbroken at the news that Shep Smith, whom the president has repeatedly slammed for criticizing him, was leaving Fox News.
Trump on FOX’s Shep Smith: “Is he leaving? Oh that’s a shame.” pic.twitter.com/ieVfDGTQMuTrump on FOX’s Shep Smith: “Is he leaving? Oh that’s a shame.” pic.twitter.com/ieVfDGTQMu
Meanwhile, Maria Yovanovitch continues to testify before the House committees investigating impeachment.Meanwhile, Maria Yovanovitch continues to testify before the House committees investigating impeachment.
The former US ambassador to Ukraine arrived on Capitol Hill for her closed-door testimony more than six hours ago.The former US ambassador to Ukraine arrived on Capitol Hill for her closed-door testimony more than six hours ago.
Expect at least another hour of Yovanovitch closed-door testimony, Rep. Mike Quigley tells reporters. Her deposition started around 10AM ET.Expect at least another hour of Yovanovitch closed-door testimony, Rep. Mike Quigley tells reporters. Her deposition started around 10AM ET.
In announcing his departure, Fox News anchor Shep Smith told his viewers that he had requested to leave and that the network had tried to convince him to stay.In announcing his departure, Fox News anchor Shep Smith told his viewers that he had requested to leave and that the network had tried to convince him to stay.
The anchor, who has previously been critical of Trump, added that he would not be reporting elsewhere for the time being.The anchor, who has previously been critical of Trump, added that he would not be reporting elsewhere for the time being.
Shepard Smith:“Recently I asked the company to allow me to leave Fox News. After requesting that I stay, they obliged. Under our agreement, I won’t be reporting elsewhere, at least in the near future." pic.twitter.com/ZJHszeBHS4Shepard Smith:“Recently I asked the company to allow me to leave Fox News. After requesting that I stay, they obliged. Under our agreement, I won’t be reporting elsewhere, at least in the near future." pic.twitter.com/ZJHszeBHS4
In some media news: Shep Smith, the Fox News anchor who was arguably most critical of Trump, is stepping down from his role at the network.In some media news: Shep Smith, the Fox News anchor who was arguably most critical of Trump, is stepping down from his role at the network.
Breaking: Shep Smith out at @FoxNews. From press release: pic.twitter.com/cFhgzb4ryCBreaking: Shep Smith out at @FoxNews. From press release: pic.twitter.com/cFhgzb4ryC
Smith has repeatedly called out the president for his falsehoods and his treatment of journalists, a habit that has attracted Trump’s scorn.Smith has repeatedly called out the president for his falsehoods and his treatment of journalists, a habit that has attracted Trump’s scorn.
Late last month, Smith condemned Trump’s false corruption allegations against Joe Biden as “baseless” and a “conspiracy theory.”Late last month, Smith condemned Trump’s false corruption allegations against Joe Biden as “baseless” and a “conspiracy theory.”