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Trump 'not happy' with impeachment witness Vindman, hints at 'decisions' on his position – live Trump 'not happy' with impeachment witness Vindman, hints at 'decisions' on his position – live
(32 minutes later)
President essentially confirms reports White House is considering moving Lt Col Alexander VindmanPresident essentially confirms reports White House is considering moving Lt Col Alexander Vindman
With Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders still neck and neck amid the ongoing Iowa debacle (still no official winner), and Buttigieg surging into a position as surprise threat in New Hampshire, Sanders has been chewing the fat at the traditional Politics & Eggs breakfast in event the Granite State.
“I’m reading some headlines from newspapers about Pete Buttigieg,” he said. “Pete Buttigieg has most exclusive billionaire donors of any Democrats, that was from Forbes. The Hill: Pete Buttigieg tops billionaire donor list. Fortune: Pete Buttigieg takes lead as big business candidate in 2020 field. Washington Post: Pete Buttigieg lures even closer look from Wall Street donors following strong Iowa caucus performance. Forbes magazine: here are the billionaires backing Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign,” Time reports.
“I like Pete Buttigieg, nice guy,” he added. “But we are in a moment where billionaires control not only our economy but our political life.”
And this:
Sanders must have thought he was a shoo-in for a strong win in New Hampshire, being a left-wing fixture for decades in next-door Vermont.
Buttigieg is nipping at Sanders’s heels in the latest opinion poll in New Hampshire.
The Boston Globe/WBZ-TV/Suffolk University poll showed Sanders just in the lead in New Hampshire at 24 percent, with Buttigieg at 23 percent. Then a gap before the third-placed Elizabeth Warren, also a New England politician as the Senator for nearby Massachusetts, but now in danger of stalling in the middle of the leading group despite a solid performance in Iowa. Warren received 13 percent support, ahead of the flagging Joe Biden on 11 percent.
Donald Trump retweeted this afternoon two tweets that recommended he fire Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, an adviser on the national security counsel who testified in the impeachment trial. This morning, Trump said he wasn’t happy with Vindman and that decisions would be made about his post. Here are the tweets – one is from November.
Here’s what has happened so far today:Here’s what has happened so far today:
Donald Trump said that he is not happy with Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and alluded to “decisions” that would be made about his standing on the national security council, essentially confirming reports that the White House is thinking about moving him out of his position.Donald Trump said that he is not happy with Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and alluded to “decisions” that would be made about his standing on the national security council, essentially confirming reports that the White House is thinking about moving him out of his position.
All attention is on New Hampshire ahead of the state’s Democratic primary on Tuesday. A new poll showed senator Bernie Sanders and former South Bend Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg are head-to-head for New Hampshire voters. Sanders has a slight lead at 24%, while Buttigieg polled at 24%.All attention is on New Hampshire ahead of the state’s Democratic primary on Tuesday. A new poll showed senator Bernie Sanders and former South Bend Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg are head-to-head for New Hampshire voters. Sanders has a slight lead at 24%, while Buttigieg polled at 24%.
A US appeals court in DC ruled that a lawsuit brought forth by congressional Democrats that says Trump violated the Constitution by not turning over information about his personal investment has no standing. Trump celebrated the news about the “Witch Hunt” with a tweet.A US appeals court in DC ruled that a lawsuit brought forth by congressional Democrats that says Trump violated the Constitution by not turning over information about his personal investment has no standing. Trump celebrated the news about the “Witch Hunt” with a tweet.
A Washington Post reported this morning that Trump’s properties have billed Secret Service agents as much as $650 for a night’s stay while protecting the president, ultimately paid by US taxpayers.A Washington Post reported this morning that Trump’s properties have billed Secret Service agents as much as $650 for a night’s stay while protecting the president, ultimately paid by US taxpayers.
House passes Puerto Rico aid packageHouse passes Puerto Rico aid package
The House just passed a $21bn emergency aid package in response to the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the island 7 January. The earthquake left one dead and destroyed dozens of homes and structures, along with disrupting power and water for days.The House just passed a $21bn emergency aid package in response to the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the island 7 January. The earthquake left one dead and destroyed dozens of homes and structures, along with disrupting power and water for days.
“In recent weeks, thousands of families in Puerto Rico were forced from their homes, schools were flattened, roads and infrastructure were severely damage,” said US rep Nita Lowey, House appropriations chairwoman, in a statement.“In recent weeks, thousands of families in Puerto Rico were forced from their homes, schools were flattened, roads and infrastructure were severely damage,” said US rep Nita Lowey, House appropriations chairwoman, in a statement.
Congressional Republicans, 17 of whom in the House voted for the bill, have indicated that they will give the package trouble once it gets to the Senate. Donald Trump has already threatened to veto it.Congressional Republicans, 17 of whom in the House voted for the bill, have indicated that they will give the package trouble once it gets to the Senate. Donald Trump has already threatened to veto it.
Is this a preview of the kind of content former NYC mayor Mike Bloomberg’s campaign Twitter will be spitting out during tonight’s debate? Only time will tell.Is this a preview of the kind of content former NYC mayor Mike Bloomberg’s campaign Twitter will be spitting out during tonight’s debate? Only time will tell.
Standing outside the White House for some Chopper Talk this morning, Donald Trump said that there will be a decision sometime in the future about what to do with Lt Col Alexander Vindman, a member of the national security council who testified against the president during the impeachment trial. Bloomberg News reported last night that the White House is thinking about moving Vindman out of the council and rotate him to a position in the Department of Defense.Standing outside the White House for some Chopper Talk this morning, Donald Trump said that there will be a decision sometime in the future about what to do with Lt Col Alexander Vindman, a member of the national security council who testified against the president during the impeachment trial. Bloomberg News reported last night that the White House is thinking about moving Vindman out of the council and rotate him to a position in the Department of Defense.
One reporter said that a source close to Vindman indicated that he was at the White House yesterday and will likely work today as well, amid reports of his departure.One reporter said that a source close to Vindman indicated that he was at the White House yesterday and will likely work today as well, amid reports of his departure.
When asked about any plans to remove Vindman from his position, Trump said that he is “not happy with him” and that a decision about what do with him will be made later.When asked about any plans to remove Vindman from his position, Trump said that he is “not happy with him” and that a decision about what do with him will be made later.
Trump also denied reports that the acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, is on his way out.Trump also denied reports that the acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, is on his way out.
Comments that pundit Donny Deutsch made on MSNBC’s Morning Joe about senator Elizabeth Warren’s electability is getting some heated backlash on Twitter this morning.Comments that pundit Donny Deutsch made on MSNBC’s Morning Joe about senator Elizabeth Warren’s electability is getting some heated backlash on Twitter this morning.
When the show’s host, Joe Scarborough, asked Deutsch and Vice reporter Shawna Thomas why they think Warren has fallen behind senator Bernie Sanders, Thomas made the argument that it was because people weren’t comfortable about the electability of a woman. “If you look around and your neighbors, they’re not sure a woman can beat him, that starts to wear on a campaign,” Thomas said.When the show’s host, Joe Scarborough, asked Deutsch and Vice reporter Shawna Thomas why they think Warren has fallen behind senator Bernie Sanders, Thomas made the argument that it was because people weren’t comfortable about the electability of a woman. “If you look around and your neighbors, they’re not sure a woman can beat him, that starts to wear on a campaign,” Thomas said.
Deutcsh cut in.Deutcsh cut in.
“Is it a woman or is it her? There’s a certain stridentness to her that, do we want to invite her into our bedrooms and living rooms every day for four years?” Deutsch said. “I don’t think it’s a gender issue – it’s a likability issue.”“Is it a woman or is it her? There’s a certain stridentness to her that, do we want to invite her into our bedrooms and living rooms every day for four years?” Deutsch said. “I don’t think it’s a gender issue – it’s a likability issue.”
Something interesting to keep in mind: Educational attainment is a top determinant for who shows up to the polls.Something interesting to keep in mind: Educational attainment is a top determinant for who shows up to the polls.
During the 2018 election, those whose highest degree is a high school diploma had a 42% turnout rate in 2018, while those without a high school degree had a 27% turnout. Comparatively, 65% and 74% of those with a bachelor’s degree and advanced degree, respectively, went to the polls.During the 2018 election, those whose highest degree is a high school diploma had a 42% turnout rate in 2018, while those without a high school degree had a 27% turnout. Comparatively, 65% and 74% of those with a bachelor’s degree and advanced degree, respectively, went to the polls.
A US Appeals Court in DC just ruled on a lawsuit brought forth by lawyers for over 200 congressional Democrats that argues Donald Trump violated the Constitution’s Emolument Clause by not allowing Congress to approve his financial interests.A US Appeals Court in DC just ruled on a lawsuit brought forth by lawyers for over 200 congressional Democrats that argues Donald Trump violated the Constitution’s Emolument Clause by not allowing Congress to approve his financial interests.
The suit was meant to allow Democrats to figure out how Trump has profited from foreign dignitaries in his business dealings, like when they stay at his hotels. The clause bans the president from receiving gifts or titles from leaders of state governments or foreign countries and requires Congress to approve any gifts the president receives.The suit was meant to allow Democrats to figure out how Trump has profited from foreign dignitaries in his business dealings, like when they stay at his hotels. The clause bans the president from receiving gifts or titles from leaders of state governments or foreign countries and requires Congress to approve any gifts the president receives.
The lawsuit is one of multiple that charges the president for violating the clause.The lawsuit is one of multiple that charges the president for violating the clause.
Would you like a side of politics with those eggs?Would you like a side of politics with those eggs?
Senator Bernie Sanders is scheduled to speak this morning at a quirky event that’s become a New Hampshire tradition: Politics & Eggs.Senator Bernie Sanders is scheduled to speak this morning at a quirky event that’s become a New Hampshire tradition: Politics & Eggs.
The event, which has been held for over 20 years, largely consists of local business leaders, giving politicians a chance to schmooze and campaign for the upcoming primary.The event, which has been held for over 20 years, largely consists of local business leaders, giving politicians a chance to schmooze and campaign for the upcoming primary.
Politics & Eggs even comes with souvenirs for attendees. Commemorative wooden eggs from the event have become something of a collectible in the state, especially since candidates are often asked to autograph the eggs while attending the breakfast.Politics & Eggs even comes with souvenirs for attendees. Commemorative wooden eggs from the event have become something of a collectible in the state, especially since candidates are often asked to autograph the eggs while attending the breakfast.
And if you were wondering, the eggs are actually made in nearby Maine.And if you were wondering, the eggs are actually made in nearby Maine.
Trump pockets up to $650 when his own Secret Service agents stay at his hotelTrump pockets up to $650 when his own Secret Service agents stay at his hotel
The president’s company charges his own Secret Service agents up to $650 a night to stay at his properties – a bill that is ultimately paid by U.S. taxpayers – when they stay the night protecting him, the Washington Post reported this morning. Here’s more from the Post:The president’s company charges his own Secret Service agents up to $650 a night to stay at his properties – a bill that is ultimately paid by U.S. taxpayers – when they stay the night protecting him, the Washington Post reported this morning. Here’s more from the Post:
Dostre effect a la today’s Washington Post
B-boys are battling it out in town
Though Democrats are still trying to wrap their heads around what the hell actually happened in Iowa this week, the race still goes on. The candidates will be brawling on TV tonight for the latest Democratic debate in New Hampshire tonight before the primary vote takes place on Tuesday.
The scene in New Hampshire is tense in the wake of the Iowa caucus. Former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg’s on-the-margin win in Iowa helped him surge in a recent New Hampshire poll, putting him in a near-tie with senator Bernie Sanders, who closely followed him in the caucus (though declared a caucus victory of his own). Sanders received 24% of support in the poll, while Buttigieg got 23% – a huge soar compared to the 11% he scored in a New Hampshire poll on Monday. Expect the two to throw punches at each other on stage tonight.
Former vice president Joe Biden’s campaign appears to be quickly losing momentum. In the poll, Biden trailed senator Elizabeth Warren – who received 13% of support in the poll – getting 11% of support. Biden recently got backlash for a cringey video of Biden apparently stroking the face of Samuel Habib, a 20-year-old student and disability rights advocate, who approached the candidate asking him what he will do to support students with disabilities. Habib has since said the interaction felt patronizing.
The US added 225,000 jobs in January, a much higher figure than expected. For all the jobs numbers, reaction and analysis, here’s our business live blog.
After retweeting various people praising him and attacking enemies like Elizabeth Warren and Nancy Pelosi, Trump has welcomed actor James Woods back to Twitter after he left the platform, claiming it was censoring him.
Trump told him: “Welcome back James!” and earlier on retweeted a post by Woods that called Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a “moron”.
He also weighed in on the Democrats’ inability to declare a winner in Iowa, suggesting that they should blame Russia and making a disingenuous comparison with their plans for increased health coverage. Trump has always poured scorn on the US intelligence community’s assertion that Russia meddled in the 2016 election in order to help him win.
How Donald Trump and his allies will react towards his perceived political enemies now that he has been acquitted in his impeachment trial remains to be seen.
Bloomberg News reports that Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman – who gave evidence against Trump during the impeachment – may be moved from the National Security Council.
Trump made reference to Vindman as he hit out at his foes during his post-acquittal speech at the White House yesterday. “Lieutenant Colonel Vindman and his twin brother, we had some people that were really amazing,” he said, before moving on.
Meanwhile Yahoo News reports that the US Treasury Department has given congressional Republicans access to financial information relating to Hunter Biden – the son of Democratic hopeful Joe Biden, whose work in Ukraine played a key role in kicking off the impeachment.
Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin has blocked Democratic requests for access to Trump’s tax filings, saying: “The legal implications of this request could affect protections for all Americans against politically-motivated disclosures of personal tax information, regardless of which party is in power.”
Nevertheless, Axios has reported that there is little appetite among the Republican leadership in Washington to pursue the Bidens. Alayna Treene wrote: “Some Republicans fear aggressively pursuing any investigations about Burisma will give the appearance of trying to hurt Joe Biden — a former Senate colleague —politically, which isn’t worth it to them, the aide said, ‘especially since the Biden campaign looks like it’s toast.’”
Walsh placed third in the Republican Iowa caucuses this week, with 1.07% of the vote.
His move leaves former governor Bill Weld as the only Republican challenger to Trump. He got 1.32% in Iowa.
Trump came in first with 97.14%.
The president mused about his two challengers during his speech yesterday.
Walsh said today: “Donald Trump is the greatest threat to our republic right now ... The rest of this country needs to come together to stop this guy, period.”
My colleague David Smith interviewed Walsh recently.
Former congressman Joe Walsh has dropped his primary challenge against Donald Trump, telling CNN: “It’s not a party. It’s a cult. He can’t be beat in the Republican primary so there’s no reason for me, or any candidate, really to be in there.”
It’s been a rollercoaster week in US politics, starting with the voting debacle in Iowa on Monday and carrying on through Donald Trump’s divisive State of the Union speech and his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial. But who are the losers and winners from a dramatic few days for Republicans and Democrats?
5/5: Donald Trump
A swaggering and aggressive US president called his speech at the White House on Thursday a “celebration” – and well he might. He was coming to the end of a week in which he had spent 80 minutes making the case for his re-election on primetime TV in his State of the Union speech and had been acquitted in his impeachment trial – with only one Republican breaking ranks to vote against him. A Gallup poll put the president’s approval rating at 49%, the highest level for that survey since 2017, and on top of that the Democratic primary race got off to a disastrously shambolic start in Iowa. Holding up a newspaper front page that said “Trump acquitted”, the president told his White House crowd: “Let me take that home; maybe we’ll frame it. It’s the only good headline I’ve ever had in the Washington Post.” His speech sounded like a preview of the one he plans to make on 4 November after winning the election.
4/5: Pete Buttigieg
If anyone managed to wring any momentum out of the mess in Iowa, it was the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who more or less declared victory before the results were in and went on to grab as much of the spotlight as possible. Did he even win? With almost 100% of the vote in, Buttigieg is only 0.09% ahead of socialist rival Bernie Sanders in the delegate count, and Sanders is ahead of the young pretender in the popular vote. But the veteran Vermont senator will now have to wait until New Hampshire next week to grab his share of the glory.
3/5: Mike Bloomberg
The billionaire former mayor of New York’s decision to sit out the early states and instead blanket California with advertising seems partially vindicated. With the usual momentum conferred on the winner of Iowa blunted, a strong showing from Bloomberg in the array of states voting on Super Tuesday (3 March) is bound to launch a thousand think-pieces asking whether Bloomberg can elbow aside Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg and unite the centre. Feel queasy about a rich man buying the race? Bloomberg has an answer. “Someone said, ‘Are you spending too much money?’ and I said, ‘I’m spending money to get rid of Donald Trump.’ And the guy said, ‘Spend more.’ ”
2/5: Joe Biden
Barack Obama’s former vice-president went into the week as the frontrunner in the Democratic race and still leads most national polls and match-ups with Trump. But coming fourth in Iowa – a result he called a gut-punch – has seriously dented his pitch that he is the most electable candidate. If he underperforms again in New Hampshire on Tuesday, Biden could find supporters and donors abandoning him for Buttigieg or Bloomberg.
1/5: Nancy Pelosi
The leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives took a lot of persuading to agree to impeach Trump, only doing so when the strength of the evidence in the Ukraine case became overwhelming. She initiated the process knowing it was almost certain Trump would be acquitted, but hoping to put his impeachment on the record for posterity, gum up his legislative agenda, and damage him ahead of this November’s election. She has succeeded on the first two points, but the latter is very much up for debate. And on top of that, Pelosi – usually so poised in her dealings with Trump – risked losing the moral high ground when she tore up her copy of his State of the Union speech on live TV, leading secretary of state Mike Pompeo to liken her to Lisa Simpson. (Critics said he hadn’t understood the episode.)
0/5: The state of Iowa
Iowa was already facing criticism that as a small, 90% white, largely rural state it had a disproportionate impact on the Democratic race even before Monday’s debacle, in which apps failed and telephone lines were overwhelmed, meaning that even by Friday Democrats were unable to say who had won the first contest of primary season. In the results the party eventually released, vote tallies did not add up, and figures contained inconsistencies and errors, according to the New York Times, leading the national party chair to demand a review “to assure public confidence in the results”. Conspiracy theories raged that the party was deliberately sabotaging Sanders’ chances – and the Trump campaign gleefully fanned the flames. If the Iowa state party had deliberately set out to undermine its own place in the primary hierarchy it couldn’t have done better than this.
Donald Trump has been tweeting his support for his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as Beijing struggles to deal with the coronavirus (you can read the latest on that here).
China is reportedly worried about what the virus means for its ability to stick to the terms of its new trade agreements with the US, and some officials are apparently angry at Washington’s travel restrictions and commerce secretary Wilbur Ross’s comment that the outbreak “will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America”.
Who has won the Iowa caucuses? We still don’t know.
With almost 100% of the vote in, former Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg is only 0.09% ahead of socialist rival Bernie Sanders in the delegate count, while Sanders is ahead of the young pretender in the popular vote.
The Associated Press says it is still too close to call.
Both Buttigieg and Sanders claimed victory last night.
CNN asked the centrist former mayor for his reaction to the latest tally. “That’s fantastic news, to hear that we won,” Buttigieg said.
Meanwhile, Sanders pumped out social media posts baldly claiming “Bernie wins Iowa” – and basing that in the small print on his lead in the popular vote. “We did very well,” Sanders told CNN. “We won in Iowa.”
In truth, it’s probably accurate to call Iowa a draw. The Democratic race will be decided based on the number of delegates won, and both Buttigieg and Sanders will probably come out of Iowa with the same number.
That said, Sanders went in to the contest as the narrow favourite, so in terms of perception and momentum it has probably been a win for the former mayor.
The winner certainly wasn’t the Iowa Democratic party. National party chair Tom Perez called for a “recanvass” of the tally on Thursday. “A recanvass is a review of the worksheets from each caucus site to ensure accuracy,” he explained after some confusion about that. He later said he was only calling for a recanvass in certain sites.
To add to the confusion, AP reported that “it was unclear if the party planned to follow the directive of the national leader to recanvass those results … Iowa chairman Troy Price suggested in a statement Thursday that he would only pursue a recanvass if one was requested by a campaign.”
“We’ve got enough of Iowa,” Sanders told CNN on Thursday night. “I think we should move on to New Hampshire.”
That contest is on Tuesday and uses a conventional voting system.
Also today:
8.30am ET (1.30pm): The monthly US jobs report will be released
1pm ET: Trump will speak at the North Carolina Opportunity Now Summit. He will later speak at the Republican Governors Association Finance Dinner in Washington
8pm ET: Democratic candidates will take part in a debate in New Hampshire