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| Obama announces restrictions on military gear for police – as it happened | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| 5.44pm ET22:44 | |
| Summary | |
| We’re going to wrap up our live blog coverage for the day. Here’s a summary of where things stand: | |
| Updated at 5.47pm ET | |
| 5.37pm ET22:37 | |
| Here’s video of Obama announcing new restrictions on military gear for police: | |
| Obama on police gear: 'We're going to prohibit some equipment made for the battlefield' – video http://t.co/s3KcZNebKl | |
| 5.30pm ET22:30 | |
| Roll Call catches a new line from Lindsey Graham on the need for thousands of additional US troops in Iraq. Graham this morning said that in a couple weeks he would say he’s running for president. | |
| Lindsey Graham on CNN: Obama should send 10K troops to Iraq stat. | |
| 5.28pm ET22:28 | |
| Here’s a sharp line from Rand Paul in Philadelphia today that we didn’t include earlier. Paul, talking about his work on criminal justice reform, accuses Bill Clinton of putting “a generation of black men in prison.” | |
| “If I were the nominee, we will compete in Philadelphia,” Paul said: | |
| I’ll ask Hillary Clinton, what have you done for criminal justice? Your husband passed all the laws that put a generation of black men in prison. Her husband was responsible for that.” | |
| 5.19pm ET22:19 | |
| Here’s what the Clinton event looked like from inside the room: | |
| "I am a confident optimist about where America's future lies."—@HillaryClinton in Mason City #HillaryInIA pic.twitter.com/YQnvwBSn3X | |
| 5.10pm ET22:10 | |
| This is only going to get funnier? | |
| Good question, @billclinton. The handle comes with the house. Know anyone interested in @FLOTUS? | |
| 5.08pm ET22:08 | |
| For full coverage of New Jersey governor Chris Christie’s speech earlier today on foreign policy and government surveillance, read the Guardian’s Alan Yuhas (@alanyuhas), “Chris Christie backs NSA snooping in hawkish foreign policy speech”: | |
| The New Jersey governor, Chris Christie, voiced his support for the surveillance capabilities of American law enforcers and intelligence agencies on Monday during a speech that also ranked him among the more hawkish likely presidential contenders. | |
| Christie denounced the NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden as a “a criminal who hurt our country and now enjoys the hospitality of Vladimir Putin” in his speech and said that fears of overreach and invasive surveillance by the NSA are “exaggerated and ridiculous”. | |
| Read the full piece here. | |
| 5.02pm ET22:02 | |
| Here’s your today’s moment in history, brought to you by the Oval Office: | |
| Watch President Obama send his first tweet from @POTUS. #FollowTheTweets https://t.co/N8JxY8kQIE | |
| 4.47pm ET21:47 | |
| Clinton ends Iowa address | |
| Clinton wraps. She begins to take questions– we’ll see what more we can wring from the room. | |
| Update: fat chance! | |
| Press ushered out of Clinton event as she begins to greet voters at Mason City house event. #iacaucus | |
| Updated at 4.54pm ET | |
| 4.47pm ET21:47 | |
| Then Clinton tells a story about the February 2009 trip to Indonesia she took as secretary of state. She appeared on a teen show called the Awesome show. An audience member asked her how she could work with Obama after losing to him. | |
| Clinton quotes the questioner. She almost seems to put on an accent, a mock Indonesian English accent. It’s a bit awkward. | |
| Updated at 4.56pm ET | |
| 4.46pm ET21:46 | |
| Now Clinton tells a story about taking a walk with Bill Clinton in Chappaqua after they’d both worked “so hard” to elect Obama. | |
| The two were walking in a forest, in an area with terrible cell service, and Bill gets a call. Guess who? | |
| Obama talks to Bill, and then Hillary, she says. “I went to Chicago, and he asked me if I would serve as secretary of state.” | |
| She told him no, she says. | |
| Hillary Clinton is retelling the story of Obama asking her to be secretary of state, pretty much down to a T of what's in "Hard Choices" | |
| “No, he said. I know what I want, and I want you to do this. I don’t want to hear from you again until you say yes.” | |
| “So you know, I told him no, again, later. I did tell my husband, you know, he is so persistent, you know I’ve told him no twice. And Bill said, well you know, I asked you to marry me twice, so I suppose there’s a connection there!” | |
| Laugh line. | |
| She stayed up all night and then called Obama back and said yes. | |
| Updated at 4.51pm ET | |
| 4.41pm ET21:41 | |
| This is kind of funny. Clinton seems to assume a primary election win. | |
| “I will need your help as we move toward the general election,” she says. “Because I don’t want the campaign to be about me, but about the agenda we will set.” | |
| What about Bernie Sanders? Martin O’Malley? Some other dark horse? | |
| 4.38pm ET21:38 | |
| Clinton is on to Iran. She calls for support for the president who is grappling with a difficult situation in negotiating around Iran’s nuclear program. | |
| “We are living in an incredibly complicated time in American history. It is not a time for easy answers,” she says. | |
| At the end of the day, we need a president who has both the experience and the understanding” to deal with the challenges said. | |
| I really believe that I can go into that office on the very first day and begin to do what is required,” she says. | |
| 4.36pm ET21:36 | |
| Moving quickly now. Clinton is on to dark money in politics. She says she will “protect the right to vote and not the right of billionaires to buy elections.” | |
| The Clintons together have earned $30m in speaking and book earnings since January 2014, according to reports last week. That’s not money, for example, fueled to a Super PAC by a nonprofit with anonymous donors. Maybe not “dark money.” Big money though. | |
| 4.33pm ET21:33 | |
| Clinton: end stigma on mental health, drug victims | |
| Clinton moves to the drug epidemic: “Meth kills in Iowa. And when I got to New Hampshire, at my very first coffee shop meeting, I heard about the heroin epidemic.” | |
| “This is tearing families apart but it is below the surface. People aren’t talking about it, because it is hard to deal with it.” | |
| The same is true of “untreated mental health problems,” she says, calling them “below the surface.” It’s not being treated, she says. | |
| “I did not believe I’d be standing in your living room talking about the drug abuse problem, the mental health problem and the suicide problem. But I believe I have to.” | |
| Applause line. | |
| 4.29pm ET21:29 | |
| Clinton says she will fight to protect the Affordable Care Act, and earns some applause. She says she’ll protect Medicare too. | |
| “I don’t hear my friends on the other side of the aisle talking as much as they used to about repealing the Affordable Care Act,” Clinton says. She says she suspects it’s because they’ve been meeting people who’ve been helped by the policy. | |
| 4.27pm ET21:27 | |
| Granddaughter anecdote alert. | |
| “We’ve got this new granddaughter who is unbelievable. And we were with her this weekend. We just go and stare at her.” | |
| They read to her too, Clinton says. “We’re doing it because we know that it aids her brain development.” | |
| By the time the election rolls around, Charlotte Clinton Mezvinsky, currently 7.5 months, will be nearly old enough to vote. | |
| 4.22pm ET21:22 | 4.22pm ET21:22 |
| [intermission: More humor attached to the Obama Twitter account, this one h/t @lgamgam]: | [intermission: More humor attached to the Obama Twitter account, this one h/t @lgamgam]: |
| Welcome to @Twitter, @POTUS! One question: Does that username stay with the office? #askingforafriend | Welcome to @Twitter, @POTUS! One question: Does that username stay with the office? #askingforafriend |
| Updated at 4.24pm ET | Updated at 4.24pm ET |
| 4.21pm ET21:21 | 4.21pm ET21:21 |
| Clinton dives into her theme. “People have done everything they could think of to do to get back on their feet,” she says. “There is a sense that we are on our feet. We’re not running yet, but we are on our feet.” | Clinton dives into her theme. “People have done everything they could think of to do to get back on their feet,” she says. “There is a sense that we are on our feet. We’re not running yet, but we are on our feet.” |
| First applause line: “I am very grateful to President Obama for the changes he made when he inherited the mess he did in 2009.” | First applause line: “I am very grateful to President Obama for the changes he made when he inherited the mess he did in 2009.” |
| 4.19pm ET21:19 | 4.19pm ET21:19 |
| Clinton speaks. She thanks Dean Genth and Gary Swenson, who are hosting the event in their home. It looks like they’re standing in their living room. Behind Clinton is the fireplace. But she’s standing kind of sandwiched between Merino and the hosts. She’s achieving an impressive amount of gesture-and-swivel body language for such a tight stage. | Clinton speaks. She thanks Dean Genth and Gary Swenson, who are hosting the event in their home. It looks like they’re standing in their living room. Behind Clinton is the fireplace. But she’s standing kind of sandwiched between Merino and the hosts. She’s achieving an impressive amount of gesture-and-swivel body language for such a tight stage. |
| 4.17pm ET21:17 | 4.17pm ET21:17 |
| Hillary Clinton’s organizer in northern Iowa, Sarah Merino, introduces the candidate. Merino outs herself as a native not of Iowa but of Bedford, NY, spitting distance from the Tappan Zee bridge. | Hillary Clinton’s organizer in northern Iowa, Sarah Merino, introduces the candidate. Merino outs herself as a native not of Iowa but of Bedford, NY, spitting distance from the Tappan Zee bridge. |
| Here’s Clinton. | Here’s Clinton. |
| 4.12pm ET21:12 | 4.12pm ET21:12 |
| Clinton appears at Iowa event | Clinton appears at Iowa event |
| The Clinton event gets started in Mason City, Iowa. Watch it live on CSPAN here. | The Clinton event gets started in Mason City, Iowa. Watch it live on CSPAN here. |
| .@HillaryClinton walks into first Iowa house party of the year to big applause at a Mason City household supported Obama in 2008 caucuses. | .@HillaryClinton walks into first Iowa house party of the year to big applause at a Mason City household supported Obama in 2008 caucuses. |
| 4.10pm ET21:10 | 4.10pm ET21:10 |
| Rep Guinta is the congressman who, as we mentioned earlier, has apologized after the FEC determined he had improperly accepted $355,000 for his 2010 campaign – from his parents. | Rep Guinta is the congressman who, as we mentioned earlier, has apologized after the FEC determined he had improperly accepted $355,000 for his 2010 campaign – from his parents. |
| In Giunta’s defense (?), he also held traditional fundraisers, with big-name draws such as Jeb Bush. But $5,400 per couple – the maximum allowed by law – racks up fairly slowly to make $350K. | In Giunta’s defense (?), he also held traditional fundraisers, with big-name draws such as Jeb Bush. But $5,400 per couple – the maximum allowed by law – racks up fairly slowly to make $350K. |
| Reminder: the first @JebBush event in NH was a fundraiser for @RepFrankGuinta #nhpolitics #fitn pic.twitter.com/fmW2P3Lvre | Reminder: the first @JebBush event in NH was a fundraiser for @RepFrankGuinta #nhpolitics #fitn pic.twitter.com/fmW2P3Lvre |
| 3.58pm ET20:58 | 3.58pm ET20:58 |
| McConnell to 'responsibly extend' Patriot Act | McConnell to 'responsibly extend' Patriot Act |
| Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell says he intends to extend Patriot Act provisions that his Kentucky colleague, Senator Rand Paul, today promised to filibuster. | Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell says he intends to extend Patriot Act provisions that his Kentucky colleague, Senator Rand Paul, today promised to filibuster. |
| McConnell said Monday that he intends this week to “responsibly extend” provisions of the USA Patriot Act due to expire on June 1, Reuters reports. | McConnell said Monday that he intends this week to “responsibly extend” provisions of the USA Patriot Act due to expire on June 1, Reuters reports. |
| Updated at 3.58pm ET | Updated at 3.58pm ET |
| 3.29pm ET20:29 | 3.29pm ET20:29 |
| Now that the president is off the stage, we’re awaiting Hillary Clinton’s remarks in Iowa on ways to grow small business. CSPAN is meant to have a live feed. | Now that the president is off the stage, we’re awaiting Hillary Clinton’s remarks in Iowa on ways to grow small business. CSPAN is meant to have a live feed. |
| Awaiting Clinton in Mason City. Event host backed Obama in 08 - not b/c of ideology, but says b/c Obama had more charisma, grassroots appeal | Awaiting Clinton in Mason City. Event host backed Obama in 08 - not b/c of ideology, but says b/c Obama had more charisma, grassroots appeal |
| Updated at 3.34pm ET | Updated at 3.34pm ET |
| 3.07pm ET20:07 | 3.07pm ET20:07 |
| Obama wraps Camden speech | Obama wraps Camden speech |
| Obama wraps a relatively brief speech. “Camden is showing everybody it can be done,” he says. He said young people growing up in insecure communities deserve the faith of society, and an opportunity to thrive. | Obama wraps a relatively brief speech. “Camden is showing everybody it can be done,” he says. He said young people growing up in insecure communities deserve the faith of society, and an opportunity to thrive. |
| 3.05pm ET20:05 | 3.05pm ET20:05 |
| “We know these problems are solvable. We’re not just lacking for answers. We’re lacking in political will,” Obama says. | “We know these problems are solvable. We’re not just lacking for answers. We’re lacking in political will,” Obama says. |
| Here’s the recommendation from the task force about limiting military gear for police: | Here’s the recommendation from the task force about limiting military gear for police: |
| Law enforcement agencies should create policies and procedures for policing mass demonstrations that employ a continuum of managed tactical resources that are designed to minimize the appearance of a military operation and avoid using provocative tactics and equipment that undermine civilian trust. | Law enforcement agencies should create policies and procedures for policing mass demonstrations that employ a continuum of managed tactical resources that are designed to minimize the appearance of a military operation and avoid using provocative tactics and equipment that undermine civilian trust. |
| These policies could include plans to minimize confrontation by using “soft look” uniforms, having officers remove riot gear as soon as practical, and maintaining open postures. “When officers line up in a military formation while wearing full protective gear, their visual appearance may have a dramatic influence on how the crowd perceives them and how the event ends. | These policies could include plans to minimize confrontation by using “soft look” uniforms, having officers remove riot gear as soon as practical, and maintaining open postures. “When officers line up in a military formation while wearing full protective gear, their visual appearance may have a dramatic influence on how the crowd perceives them and how the event ends. |
| 2.55pm ET19:55 | 2.55pm ET19:55 |
| Obama says “we can’t ask the police to contain and control problems that the rest of us aren’t willing to face... if we as a society don’t do more to expand opportunity... then we’ll end up seeing conflicts between law enforcement and residents.” | Obama says “we can’t ask the police to contain and control problems that the rest of us aren’t willing to face... if we as a society don’t do more to expand opportunity... then we’ll end up seeing conflicts between law enforcement and residents.” |
| “We can’t just expect police departments to solve these problems.” | “We can’t just expect police departments to solve these problems.” |
| 2.53pm ET19:53 | 2.53pm ET19:53 |
| Obama: militarized gear 'can alienate and intimidate' | Obama: militarized gear 'can alienate and intimidate' |
| Obama hails the report by his policing task force. Recommendations he highlights include: | Obama hails the report by his policing task force. Recommendations he highlights include: |
| “We’ve seen how militarized gear can sometimes give people a feeling that it’s an occupying force... it can alienate and intimidate,” Obama says. He says some of the equipment “made for the battlefield” is not suitable for local police departments. | “We’ve seen how militarized gear can sometimes give people a feeling that it’s an occupying force... it can alienate and intimidate,” Obama says. He says some of the equipment “made for the battlefield” is not suitable for local police departments. |
| 2.48pm ET19:48 | 2.48pm ET19:48 |
| “Camden and its people still face very big challenges, but this city is onto something,” Obama says. | “Camden and its people still face very big challenges, but this city is onto something,” Obama says. |
| He says that’s why he wanted to review the recommendations of his policing task force in Camden. He wants to call on other cities to follow Camden’s lead. | He says that’s why he wanted to review the recommendations of his policing task force in Camden. He wants to call on other cities to follow Camden’s lead. |
| Here’s the full text of the final report of the president’s policing task force. | Here’s the full text of the final report of the president’s policing task force. |
| 2.43pm ET19:43 | 2.43pm ET19:43 |
| Obama speaks in Camden | Obama speaks in Camden |
| President Obama has begun speaking at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Camden, New Jersey. | President Obama has begun speaking at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Camden, New Jersey. |
| 2.32pm ET19:32 | 2.32pm ET19:32 |
| Obama in Camden, via CBS: | Obama in Camden, via CBS: |
| Pres Obama chats with police and community youths in Camden, NJ. pic.twitter.com/F0dLuAttFj | Pres Obama chats with police and community youths in Camden, NJ. pic.twitter.com/F0dLuAttFj |
| 2.26pm ET19:26 | 2.26pm ET19:26 |
| Candidate Clinton is inviting Iowa voters to commit to caucusing on her behalf on 1 February. Via Bloomberg: | Candidate Clinton is inviting Iowa voters to commit to caucusing on her behalf on 1 February. Via Bloomberg: |
| Commit to Caucus card from @HillaryforIA pic.twitter.com/AbmH2JYo82 | Commit to Caucus card from @HillaryforIA pic.twitter.com/AbmH2JYo82 |
| 2.16pm ET19:16 | 2.16pm ET19:16 |
| The president is expected to speak in Camden in about an hour. While we wait you can read the prepared text of Chris Christie’s speech on foreign policy here. | The president is expected to speak in Camden in about an hour. While we wait you can read the prepared text of Chris Christie’s speech on foreign policy here. |
| Here’s the section where he calls for increased defense spending: | Here’s the section where he calls for increased defense spending: |
| So we need to give our men and women in uniform the resources they need to get the job done — and we owe it to them. That’s why Congress and the President should repeal the 2011 Budget Control Act as soon as humanly possible, get back to regular order in budgeting and restore funding levels to what Secretary Gates proposed in his fiscal 2012 budget — modest increases in defense spending through the end of the decade that will make a massive difference to our troops. It’s the right thing to do — and we should do it now. | So we need to give our men and women in uniform the resources they need to get the job done — and we owe it to them. That’s why Congress and the President should repeal the 2011 Budget Control Act as soon as humanly possible, get back to regular order in budgeting and restore funding levels to what Secretary Gates proposed in his fiscal 2012 budget — modest increases in defense spending through the end of the decade that will make a massive difference to our troops. It’s the right thing to do — and we should do it now. |
| Later, Christie called for “passing a clean extension of the Patriot Act”: | Later, Christie called for “passing a clean extension of the Patriot Act”: |
| We should begin by passing a clean extension of the Patriot Act. At the end of May, vital pieces of that legislation are going to expire, including Section 215 — essential for our intelligence agencies to access the data they need to stop suspected terrorists. I used this tool extensively, aggressively and legally as US Attorney and I can tell you this: it works. This is a big debate in Congress right now, and different courts have expressed their views on the program too. But right now, that debate is dominated by the intellectual purists worried about theoretical abuses that haven’t occurred — instead of the real threats that we’ve already seen from Garland, Texas, to Ft. Dix, New Jersey. | We should begin by passing a clean extension of the Patriot Act. At the end of May, vital pieces of that legislation are going to expire, including Section 215 — essential for our intelligence agencies to access the data they need to stop suspected terrorists. I used this tool extensively, aggressively and legally as US Attorney and I can tell you this: it works. This is a big debate in Congress right now, and different courts have expressed their views on the program too. But right now, that debate is dominated by the intellectual purists worried about theoretical abuses that haven’t occurred — instead of the real threats that we’ve already seen from Garland, Texas, to Ft. Dix, New Jersey. |
| 2.04pm ET19:04 | 2.04pm ET19:04 |
| The Democratic National Committee has responded to Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s announcement that he is forming an exploratory committee for a presidential run. | The Democratic National Committee has responded to Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s announcement that he is forming an exploratory committee for a presidential run. |
| Here’s the reply, in full (h/t: @bencjacobs): | Here’s the reply, in full (h/t: @bencjacobs): |
| Following the news that Bobby Jindal has launched his Presidential Exploratory Committee, DNC National Press Secretary Holly Shulman released the following statement: | Following the news that Bobby Jindal has launched his Presidential Exploratory Committee, DNC National Press Secretary Holly Shulman released the following statement: |
| 2.02pm ET19:02 | 2.02pm ET19:02 |
| Poll finds bipartisan opposition to NSA surveillance | Poll finds bipartisan opposition to NSA surveillance |
| Sixty percent of likely voters believe the Patriot Act ought to be modified, against 34% that favor its retention in its current form, according to a new poll of 1,001 likely voters commissioned by the American Civil Liberties Union and carried out by the Global Strategy Group and G2 Public Strategies. | Sixty percent of likely voters believe the Patriot Act ought to be modified, against 34% that favor its retention in its current form, according to a new poll of 1,001 likely voters commissioned by the American Civil Liberties Union and carried out by the Global Strategy Group and G2 Public Strategies. |
| The Guardian’s Spencer Ackerman and Sabrini Siddiqui report: | The Guardian’s Spencer Ackerman and Sabrini Siddiqui report: |
| Opposition to reauthorizing the Patriot Act without modification cuts against a bill by the GOP Senate leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. The poll found 58% of Republicans favor modification, the subject of a rival bipartisan bill that recently passed the House, with only 36% of them favoring retention. Self-identified “very conservative” voters favor modification by a 59% to 34% margin. | Opposition to reauthorizing the Patriot Act without modification cuts against a bill by the GOP Senate leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. The poll found 58% of Republicans favor modification, the subject of a rival bipartisan bill that recently passed the House, with only 36% of them favoring retention. Self-identified “very conservative” voters favor modification by a 59% to 34% margin. |
| The margins for Democrats are similar to those for Republicans. Independent voters, however, are even less enthusiastic about mass domestic surveillance: 71% want the Patriot Act modified, versus 22% who favor keeping it as it is, which pollster Greg Strimple called “intense”. | The margins for Democrats are similar to those for Republicans. Independent voters, however, are even less enthusiastic about mass domestic surveillance: 71% want the Patriot Act modified, versus 22% who favor keeping it as it is, which pollster Greg Strimple called “intense”. |
| Read the full piece here. | Read the full piece here. |
| 1.56pm ET18:56 | 1.56pm ET18:56 |
| Quick hits | Quick hits |
| Here are a few juicy politics headlines for you from around the ’web: | Here are a few juicy politics headlines for you from around the ’web: |
| NH GOP Congressman’s Political Career Hangs in Balance After FEC Violation | NH GOP Congressman’s Political Career Hangs in Balance After FEC Violation |
| Bobby Jindal forming exploratory committee for White House run | Bobby Jindal forming exploratory committee for White House run |
| Rand Paul bucks McConnell on Patriot Act extension | Rand Paul bucks McConnell on Patriot Act extension |
| “We will do everything possible, including filibustering the Patriot Act, to stop them,” he told a cheering crowd at a rally in front of Independence Hall. | “We will do everything possible, including filibustering the Patriot Act, to stop them,” he told a cheering crowd at a rally in front of Independence Hall. |
| 1.48pm ET18:48 | 1.48pm ET18:48 |
| There’s Bill Clinton, at Rahm Emanuel’s second inauguration (with bonus Senator Dick Durbin on Clinton’s right): | There’s Bill Clinton, at Rahm Emanuel’s second inauguration (with bonus Senator Dick Durbin on Clinton’s right): |
| Rahm sworn in for second term with his mentor on hand for support. Fiscal challenges ahead for Sweet Home Chicago pic.twitter.com/v9ljvtS8rF | Rahm sworn in for second term with his mentor on hand for support. Fiscal challenges ahead for Sweet Home Chicago pic.twitter.com/v9ljvtS8rF |
| 1.45pm ET18:45 | 1.45pm ET18:45 |
| Among Hillary Clinton’s stops in Iowa today will be a meeting with Democratic activists at the home of one of the first gay couples to marry in the state, MSNBC reports: | Among Hillary Clinton’s stops in Iowa today will be a meeting with Democratic activists at the home of one of the first gay couples to marry in the state, MSNBC reports: |
| Dean Genth and Gary Swenson are longtime activists who got married in 2009 on the first day same-sex unions became legal in the state. Both supported Barack Obama over Clinton during the 2008 caucus, but are now backing the former secretary of state. | Dean Genth and Gary Swenson are longtime activists who got married in 2009 on the first day same-sex unions became legal in the state. Both supported Barack Obama over Clinton during the 2008 caucus, but are now backing the former secretary of state. |
| 1.43pm ET18:43 | 1.43pm ET18:43 |
| Summary | Summary |
| As our live blog coverage of the day in politics continues, here’s a summary of where things stand: | As our live blog coverage of the day in politics continues, here’s a summary of where things stand: |
| 1.16pm ET18:16 | 1.16pm ET18:16 |
| The president is making his way to his Camden appearance. He’s landed in Philadelphia, across the Delaware River from Camden. | The president is making his way to his Camden appearance. He’s landed in Philadelphia, across the Delaware River from Camden. |
| Obama greeted in Philadelphia by Mayor Nutter, Senator Casey & thanked 1st responders 2 Amtrak derailment on Tarmac pic.twitter.com/kzSSnyZ1WI | Obama greeted in Philadelphia by Mayor Nutter, Senator Casey & thanked 1st responders 2 Amtrak derailment on Tarmac pic.twitter.com/kzSSnyZ1WI |
| 1.10pm ET18:10 | 1.10pm ET18:10 |
| Having just wrapped a speech in New Hampshire, Chris Christie will not be able to make it to Camden to welcome the president to his state this afternoon, unfortunately: | Having just wrapped a speech in New Hampshire, Chris Christie will not be able to make it to Camden to welcome the president to his state this afternoon, unfortunately: |
| Hey @GovChristie, you meant Renaissance? pic.twitter.com/WZxj3qSvJj | Hey @GovChristie, you meant Renaissance? pic.twitter.com/WZxj3qSvJj |
| 1.01pm ET18:01 | 1.01pm ET18:01 |
| It’s tough talk across the board from Christie. He calls for an asset ban on Russian president Vladimir Putin, for a stepped-up confrontation with Isis militants in Iraq and for an “absolute” commitment to Israel. | It’s tough talk across the board from Christie. He calls for an asset ban on Russian president Vladimir Putin, for a stepped-up confrontation with Isis militants in Iraq and for an “absolute” commitment to Israel. |
| .@GovChristie: We should immediately put travel bans and asset freezes on every member of the Russian parliament and Putin’s entire circle | .@GovChristie: We should immediately put travel bans and asset freezes on every member of the Russian parliament and Putin’s entire circle |
| Christie winds down with a call to “banish cynicism” and a quote from Ronald Reagan about the “will and courage of free men and women.” | Christie winds down with a call to “banish cynicism” and a quote from Ronald Reagan about the “will and courage of free men and women.” |
| “Today we live in cynical times, with a cynical politics,” says Christie, who has roundly denied knowledge of an alleged plot by his former deputy chief of staff and high school buddy to close lanes on the George Washington bridge in political retaliation against a small-town New Jersey mayor. | “Today we live in cynical times, with a cynical politics,” says Christie, who has roundly denied knowledge of an alleged plot by his former deputy chief of staff and high school buddy to close lanes on the George Washington bridge in political retaliation against a small-town New Jersey mayor. |
| 12.48pm ET17:48 | 12.48pm ET17:48 |
| A live feed of the Christie speech is here. He’s describing pillars of a stronger foreign policy. One is firm international alliances, which Christie accuses Obama of squandering. | A live feed of the Christie speech is here. He’s describing pillars of a stronger foreign policy. One is firm international alliances, which Christie accuses Obama of squandering. |
| “We have a government that doesn’t seem to care about all the blood and sweat and treasure that it took to build those alliances,” Christie says. | “We have a government that doesn’t seem to care about all the blood and sweat and treasure that it took to build those alliances,” Christie says. |
| Exhibit A, Christie says, was the president’s false “red line” on the Syrian president’s use of chemical weapons. | Exhibit A, Christie says, was the president’s false “red line” on the Syrian president’s use of chemical weapons. |
| “[Assad] used chemical weapons against his own people,” said Christie. “President Obama’s response? Nevermind.” | “[Assad] used chemical weapons against his own people,” said Christie. “President Obama’s response? Nevermind.” |
| Christie said Russia’s incursions in Crimea and Ukraine are not surprising, given what he portrays as the president’s failure to back up words with action. | Christie said Russia’s incursions in Crimea and Ukraine are not surprising, given what he portrays as the president’s failure to back up words with action. |
| “We should give Ukraine the weapons it needs to defend itself and we should give it to them now,” Christie says. | “We should give Ukraine the weapons it needs to defend itself and we should give it to them now,” Christie says. |
| 12.40pm ET17:40 | 12.40pm ET17:40 |
| Oh great. The president of the United States takes the historic step of joining Twitter and immediately runs into a towering wall of stupid. This cannot actually be what is on Americans’ minds. Where are all the questions about pre-K and chained CPI | Oh great. The president of the United States takes the historic step of joining Twitter and immediately runs into a towering wall of stupid. This cannot actually be what is on Americans’ minds. Where are all the questions about pre-K and chained CPI |
| Think he regrets this yet? pic.twitter.com/oX5xClUdul | Think he regrets this yet? pic.twitter.com/oX5xClUdul |
| Updated at 12.42pm ET | Updated at 12.42pm ET |
| 12.32pm ET17:32 | 12.32pm ET17:32 |
| Speaking in Philadelphia, the site of last week’s catastrophic train derailment, Rand Paul calls for the privatization of Amtrak, Bloomberg’s Dave Weigel reports: | Speaking in Philadelphia, the site of last week’s catastrophic train derailment, Rand Paul calls for the privatization of Amtrak, Bloomberg’s Dave Weigel reports: |
| Unsurprisingly, Rand says we should privatize Amtrak. “Man, if we could sell that and let a real company put up a fast train…" | Unsurprisingly, Rand says we should privatize Amtrak. “Man, if we could sell that and let a real company put up a fast train…" |
| 12.20pm ET17:20 | 12.20pm ET17:20 |
| Obama Tweets | Obama Tweets |
| Talk about big news. Barack Obama has become the first president ever to join Twitter, making him the first president ever to Tweet. | Talk about big news. Barack Obama has become the first president ever to join Twitter, making him the first president ever to Tweet. |
| That follows a strong run of firsts for the president including First to Use a Selfie Stick and First to Join a Google Hangout and First to Go on Late Night as a Sitting President. | That follows a strong run of firsts for the president including First to Use a Selfie Stick and First to Join a Google Hangout and First to Go on Late Night as a Sitting President. |
| Hello, Twitter! It's Barack. Really! Six years in, they're finally giving me my own account. | Hello, Twitter! It's Barack. Really! Six years in, they're finally giving me my own account. |
| Update 1: | Update 1: |
| POTUS chose Selma for his Twitter header photo https://t.co/2LLi0ryz08 pic.twitter.com/5CRj9HpP6x | POTUS chose Selma for his Twitter header photo https://t.co/2LLi0ryz08 pic.twitter.com/5CRj9HpP6x |
| Update 2: | Update 2: |
| I'm going to place my bets on Elizabeth Warren and Sherrod Brown. https://t.co/YFjj3RqmEI | I'm going to place my bets on Elizabeth Warren and Sherrod Brown. https://t.co/YFjj3RqmEI |
| Updated at 12.33pm ET | Updated at 12.33pm ET |
| 12.10pm ET17:10 | 12.10pm ET17:10 |
| Christie: fears of government spying 'baloney' | Christie: fears of government spying 'baloney' |
| New Jersey Governor Chris Christie planned to deliver a sharp rebuke of Edward Snowden and to dismiss fears about abuses of government surveillance as “baloney,” according to prepared remarks for a speech today in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. | New Jersey Governor Chris Christie planned to deliver a sharp rebuke of Edward Snowden and to dismiss fears about abuses of government surveillance as “baloney,” according to prepared remarks for a speech today in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. |
| Christie also planned to blame “civil liberties extremists” for the rise of concerns about privacy protections following revelations about secret government spying programs. | Christie also planned to blame “civil liberties extremists” for the rise of concerns about privacy protections following revelations about secret government spying programs. |
| “When it comes to fighting terrorism, our government is not the enemy,” Christie planned to say, according to remarks obtained by the Associated Press, continuing: | “When it comes to fighting terrorism, our government is not the enemy,” Christie planned to say, according to remarks obtained by the Associated Press, continuing: |
| When Edward Snowden revealed our intelligence secrets to the world in 2013, civil liberties extremists seized that moment to advance their own narrow agenda. They want you to think that there’s a government spook listening in every time you pick up the phone or Skype with your grandkids. They want you to think of our intelligence community as the bad guys, straight out of the Bourne Identity or a Hollywood thriller. And they want you to think that if we weakened our capabilities, the rest of the world would love us more. | When Edward Snowden revealed our intelligence secrets to the world in 2013, civil liberties extremists seized that moment to advance their own narrow agenda. They want you to think that there’s a government spook listening in every time you pick up the phone or Skype with your grandkids. They want you to think of our intelligence community as the bad guys, straight out of the Bourne Identity or a Hollywood thriller. And they want you to think that if we weakened our capabilities, the rest of the world would love us more. |
| “Let me be clear — all these fears are baloney.” | “Let me be clear — all these fears are baloney.” |
| Updated at 12.15pm ET | Updated at 12.15pm ET |
| 12.00pm ET17:00 | 12.00pm ET17:00 |
| Last week’s Republican fumbling of questions about the Iraq war skittered straight into the weekend, with Senator Marco Rubio becoming the latest presidential hopeful to bobble it. | Last week’s Republican fumbling of questions about the Iraq war skittered straight into the weekend, with Senator Marco Rubio becoming the latest presidential hopeful to bobble it. |
| Rubio has seemed to take all sides on the issue, saying the war made the world safer but also saying last week that, “knowing what we know now,” he would not have authorized the 2003 US invasion. | Rubio has seemed to take all sides on the issue, saying the war made the world safer but also saying last week that, “knowing what we know now,” he would not have authorized the 2003 US invasion. |
| Pressed by Fox News host Chris Wallace on Sunday on the apparent contradiction in those statements, Rubio threw up an impressive – and impressively comprehensible – defense. | Pressed by Fox News host Chris Wallace on Sunday on the apparent contradiction in those statements, Rubio threw up an impressive – and impressively comprehensible – defense. |
| “I still say it was not a mistake, Rubio said. “A president cannot make a decision on what someone might know in the future.” | “I still say it was not a mistake, Rubio said. “A president cannot make a decision on what someone might know in the future.” |
| Wallace: Was it a mistake? | Wallace: Was it a mistake? |
| Rubio: It was not a mistake for the president to go into Iraq based on the information he was provided as president. | Rubio: It was not a mistake for the president to go into Iraq based on the information he was provided as president. |
| Fortunately there’s one voice of clarity on the issue on the Republican side: Donald Trump. | Fortunately there’s one voice of clarity on the issue on the Republican side: Donald Trump. |
| “I would have never been in Iraq,” Trump told Fox News on Sunday after Rubio’s appearance, adding that Saddam Hussein was preferable to Isis: | “I would have never been in Iraq,” Trump told Fox News on Sunday after Rubio’s appearance, adding that Saddam Hussein was preferable to Isis: |
| “These characters like Rubio made a total fool of himself on Chris Wallace’s program, talking about we were better off without Saddam Hussein. Give me a break. Right now we have ISIS, which is worse than Hussein. Hussein did one thing: he killed terrorists. | “These characters like Rubio made a total fool of himself on Chris Wallace’s program, talking about we were better off without Saddam Hussein. Give me a break. Right now we have ISIS, which is worse than Hussein. Hussein did one thing: he killed terrorists. |
| “We are in worse shape than we ever were. It’s a mess.” | “We are in worse shape than we ever were. It’s a mess.” |
| 11.31am ET16:31 | 11.31am ET16:31 |
| Paul: the reluctant interventionist. Politico is in Philadelphia too: | Paul: the reluctant interventionist. Politico is in Philadelphia too: |
| Rand on whether he would attack ISIS: "I would do it somewhat regrettably, in that I wish ISIS weren’t so strong." | Rand on whether he would attack ISIS: "I would do it somewhat regrettably, in that I wish ISIS weren’t so strong." |
| 11.29am ET16:29 | 11.29am ET16:29 |
| Paul promises to compete in Pennsylvania, arguing that his record of calling for criminal justice reform – including reforming mandatory sentencing for drug offenders and – gives him an edge on Hillary Clinton in places like Philadelphia. Here’s Bloomberg: | Paul promises to compete in Pennsylvania, arguing that his record of calling for criminal justice reform – including reforming mandatory sentencing for drug offenders and – gives him an edge on Hillary Clinton in places like Philadelphia. Here’s Bloomberg: |
| Rand in Philly: "If I am the nominee, we will compete in Philadelphia... I'll ask Hillary Clinton, what have you done for criminal justice?" | Rand in Philly: "If I am the nominee, we will compete in Philadelphia... I'll ask Hillary Clinton, what have you done for criminal justice?" |
| Obama beat Romney by five points in Pennsylvania in 2012. | Obama beat Romney by five points in Pennsylvania in 2012. |
| 11.25am ET16:25 | 11.25am ET16:25 |
| Before his speech today in Philadelphia, Senator Paul mingled with some locals. | Before his speech today in Philadelphia, Senator Paul mingled with some locals. |
| Great to be in Philadelphia at the National Constitution Center! pic.twitter.com/1mgm0ruDDe | Great to be in Philadelphia at the National Constitution Center! pic.twitter.com/1mgm0ruDDe |
| 11.24am ET16:24 | 11.24am ET16:24 |
| Rubio: 'None of that matters if we're not safe' | Rubio: 'None of that matters if we're not safe' |
| The best video on Marco Rubio’s YouTube channel is probably the one that features him coaching a kiddie football team. He gives a pep talk on the theme of not giving up or stopping believing. | The best video on Marco Rubio’s YouTube channel is probably the one that features him coaching a kiddie football team. He gives a pep talk on the theme of not giving up or stopping believing. |
| Most important of all, however, Rubio says in a separate video, is keeping safe. In a Q&A on Friday, the 2016 presidential candidate was asked which is a higher priority, “domestic issues or the foreign issues, especially terrorism.” | Most important of all, however, Rubio says in a separate video, is keeping safe. In a Q&A on Friday, the 2016 presidential candidate was asked which is a higher priority, “domestic issues or the foreign issues, especially terrorism.” |
| Rubio says “our economy will always be a major issue” but “none of that matters if we’re not safe”: | Rubio says “our economy will always be a major issue” but “none of that matters if we’re not safe”: |
| Anyone w/skillz want to Photoshop Rubio glaring down in b&w from a huge telescreen captioned "Nothing matters unless we're safe"? @darth? | Anyone w/skillz want to Photoshop Rubio glaring down in b&w from a huge telescreen captioned "Nothing matters unless we're safe"? @darth? |
| Updated at 11.32am ET | Updated at 11.32am ET |
| 11.14am ET16:14 | 11.14am ET16:14 |
| Hillary Clinton is in Iowa today, but where’s Bill? | Hillary Clinton is in Iowa today, but where’s Bill? |
| Just one state east, in Illinois, where the former president is expected to attend the inauguration of Rahm Emanuel to his second term as Chicago mayor. | Just one state east, in Illinois, where the former president is expected to attend the inauguration of Rahm Emanuel to his second term as Chicago mayor. |
| The Chicago Theatre is starting to fill up for Mayor Rahm Emanuel's second inaugural. pic.twitter.com/Wkks2gJvu9 | The Chicago Theatre is starting to fill up for Mayor Rahm Emanuel's second inaugural. pic.twitter.com/Wkks2gJvu9 |
| 11.07am ET16:07 | 11.07am ET16:07 |
| We should have some lines from Rand Paul soon on the showdown over House legislation to reform US government surveillance programs – legislation that Paul has threatened to filibuster in the Senate. | We should have some lines from Rand Paul soon on the showdown over House legislation to reform US government surveillance programs – legislation that Paul has threatened to filibuster in the Senate. |
| While we wait – on the off chance you missed Saturday Night Live this weekend – and its send-up of what a Hillary Clinton candidacy could mean for your summertime this year: | While we wait – on the off chance you missed Saturday Night Live this weekend – and its send-up of what a Hillary Clinton candidacy could mean for your summertime this year: |
| 10.52am ET15:52 | 10.52am ET15:52 |
| Some details on the Clinton event – the candidate will appear in Mason City, Iowa, this afternoon to make some remarks about small business. That’s tentatively slated for 3.45pm ET. | Some details on the Clinton event – the candidate will appear in Mason City, Iowa, this afternoon to make some remarks about small business. That’s tentatively slated for 3.45pm ET. |
| 10.46am ET15:46 | 10.46am ET15:46 |
| Good morning and welcome to the day in politics, an umbrella that today will also cover the appearance this afternoon by President Obama in New Jersey to announce new rules limiting military equipment for local police forces. | Good morning and welcome to the day in politics, an umbrella that today will also cover the appearance this afternoon by President Obama in New Jersey to announce new rules limiting military equipment for local police forces. |
| Before we get to the president, however, New Jersey governor Chris Christie is slated to deliver a speech calling for beefed-up government surveillance programs and attacking Edward Snowden for exposing domestic spying. Some of the programs could be shuttered if Congress fails to act before a 1 June deadline to renew them. | Before we get to the president, however, New Jersey governor Chris Christie is slated to deliver a speech calling for beefed-up government surveillance programs and attacking Edward Snowden for exposing domestic spying. Some of the programs could be shuttered if Congress fails to act before a 1 June deadline to renew them. |
| Elsewhere in the 2016 presidential race, Hillary Clinton plans to return to the campaign trail in Iowa, while the Republican slate of candidates has (almost) gained a likely new entry in Lindsey Graham, the senator from South Carolina. After a weekend “cattle call”, Mike Huckabee and Rick Perry are still kicking around Iowa on Monday, while Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush were scheduled to pop up in their home state of Florida. | Elsewhere in the 2016 presidential race, Hillary Clinton plans to return to the campaign trail in Iowa, while the Republican slate of candidates has (almost) gained a likely new entry in Lindsey Graham, the senator from South Carolina. After a weekend “cattle call”, Mike Huckabee and Rick Perry are still kicking around Iowa on Monday, while Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush were scheduled to pop up in their home state of Florida. |
| Updated at 11.34am ET | Updated at 11.34am ET |