| WEATHER INTERNAL

5 college football players suspended over racist messages, including KKK photo

Five members of an NCAA Division III football team were suspended after a screenshot of a racist Snapchat conversation surfaced.

LSU, Ohio State, Clemson, Georgia remain atop CFP rankings

The College Football Playoff rankings were unchanged at the top this week, with LSU first followed by Ohio State, Clemson and Georgia.

Tua Tagovailoa’s prognosis ‘excellent’ after his surgery

Alabama’s team surgeon said Tua Tagovailoa’s prognosis was “excellent” after the quarterback underwent surgery to repair a dislocated hip, although there is no timeline for Tagovailoa’s recovery.

Alabama star Tua Tagovailoa set for hip surgery in Houston

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is scheduled to have hip surgery in Houston.

Gary Danielson of CBS slammed for comments – and chuckles — after sideline photographer injured

Gary Danielson startled and angered many viewers Saturday with his reactions after a photographer got slammed to the turf on the sidelines of the Georgia-Auburn game.

Photographer hospitalized after taking brutal hit during Georgia-Auburn game

A photographer was hospitalized Saturday after she was briefly knocked unconscious with a brutal accidental hit by Georgia Bulldogs running back Brian Herrian during their game against Auburn.

Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa carted off field ‘screaming in pain’

Alabama quarterback and potential Number 1 overall draft pick Tua Tagovailoa was carted off the field Saturday with an apparent hip injury after being dragged down by two Mississippi State defenders.

Oklahoma State football team honors veterans with military style uniforms

In honor of Veterans Day, the Oklahoma State football program (OSU) is set to roll out a new set of military-style uniforms during their game against Kansas on Saturday.

US military academy athletes can now delay service, go pro

Defense Secretary Mark Esper has opened the door for athletes at the nation’s military academies to play professional sports after they graduate, and delay their active-duty service.

Irish, Midshipmen both thankful for long-running series

The belated congratulations came to Roger Staubach on a February afternoon in 2008 at the Daytona 500.

Toledo Rockets defensive lineman ejected for brutal hit on quarterback who slipped

A Toledo Rockets defensive end was ejected from Wednesday night’s game against the Northern Illinois Huskies for a brutal hit levied on a quarterback.

Ohio State DE Chase Young to miss to miss one more game for NCAA violation

Ohio State star Chase Young, one of the nation’s top pass rushers, will miss another game, but just one more, according to reports.

Ohio Bobcats lineman performs cartwheel on team’s pass play

The Ohio Bobcats threw a new wrinkle into their playbook in a Mid-American Conference game against the Western Michigan Broncos on Tuesday night.

Alabama 5th in CFP committee rankings after loss to LSU

Alabama is fifth in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, behind LSU, Ohio State, Clemson and Georgia, which took over the fourth spot in the selection committee’s second top 25.

LSU holds off Alabama in much-anticipated shootout

LSU staked their claim to being the No.1 team in the nation on Saturday, while Joe Burrow staked his claim to the Heisman Trophy.

Trump receives mostly warm welcome at Alabama-LSU game

President Trump attended his third sporting event in the past two weeks Saturday as he sat on the sidelines of the football game between rivals Alabama Crimson Tide and Louisiana State University Tigers.

Deion Sanders considered potential candidate for Florida State coaching job: report

Hall of Fame defensive back Deion Sanders may be trolling the sidelines once again but this time with a headset on and calling plays for a team instead of trying to break up passes.

Howard University football coach on leave after allegations of abusive behavior

Howard University placed football coach Ron Prince on administrative leave Wednesday after he was accused of abusive behavior toward the players and the coaching staff.

New Mexico-Air Force football game postponed following New Mexico player’s death

Saturday’s scheduled college football game between the U.S. Air Force Academy and the University of New Mexico has been postponed following the death of a New Mexico player.

Jim Harbaugh reveals College Football Playoff expansion idea

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh offered an interesting take on how to expand the College Football Playoff as the bracket format moves into its sixth season.

Bitcoin Busts Below $8,000 To One-Month Lows

21 November 2019

Bitcoin Busts Below $8,000 To One-Month Lows

Another sea of red across cryptos this morning after tumbling in early European trading (it's been an ugly 7 days as the image below shows)...

Source: Coin360

Bitcoin Cash is leading the decline on the week along with Litecoin...

Source: Bloomberg

But Bictoin's psychological plunge to a $7k handle is most notable...

Source: Bloomberg

As CoinTelegraph's William Suberg notes, analysts had widely predicted the bearish move, with regular Cointelegraph contributor Michaël van de Poppe recently eyeing $7,400 as a realistic new support zone for Bitcoin.

Continuing the forecast, fellow contributor filbfilb highlighted even lower levels — $6,500 or the pivotal profitability price for miners — as the ultimate floor if bearish sentiment continued. Before that, the 100-week moving average (WMA) at $7,520 could provide further support.

As Cointelegraph reported, $6,500 is considered by many commentators as the lowest possible Bitcoin price under current conditions.

“Still think the 100 WMA will hold up at this stage, but if it doesn’t, I’m all in at $6,500,” filbfilb said in private comments.

On Monday, statistician Willy Woo forecast that current Bitcoin price behavior would remain “unique” compared to previous cycles in its history. Specifically, BTC/USD would approach its 2020 block reward halving on bearish sentiment. In 2012 and 2016, halvings followed at least six months of bullish progress.

Woo additionally predicted that volatility would remain a feature for Bitcoin in the coming months.

Tyler Durden Thu, 11/21/2019 - 09:50

Blain: "Give The Goddamn Commies A Turn To F**K Up The USA And UK"

21 November 2019

Blain: "Give The Goddamn Commies A Turn To F**K Up The USA And UK"

Blain's Morning Porridge, submitted by Bill Blain of Shard Capital

“China is a sleeping giant. Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move the world.”

While we’ve being getting all angry about the UK elections, and who said what in the White House, we’re likely focusing on the wrong stuff. I reckon a trade deal is further away than ever. The current crisis point that could impact global markets is Hong Kong, and there are two fundamentals to factor at present:

1. What will China do?

2. What will be the Occidental response?

Many commentators are taking a pessimistic view, and predicting a brutal outcome; a repeat of Tiananmen Square in Hong Kong, citing China’s need to demonstrate its' dignity and prestige, and maintain the concept of “mainzi” or “face”. Such a reaction would be blunt and extremely challenging to the West.

An escalation would certainly destabilise the outlook for the global economy, pushing the current trade skirmishes into a full scale trade war right up to sanctions. Further images of state supression in Hong Kong will build consensus across the West – no matter how damaging to growth.

The Chinese know their claim to be the only and final determiner of Hong Hong’s constitutional legislation puts it in direct challenge with the US. Although it will infuriate Beijing, Trump is expected to sign House legislation supporting the protestors – it requires annual certification that Hong Kong remains independent of china to retain its “favoured nation status”. It’s likely to be another reason China isn’t set to budge on trade.

No one is quite sure how Xi will respond to the challenge – everyone is guessing. (The Chinese might even be front running the expected Western reaction!) Yet the Chinese have time on their side. Rather than knock out blows, perhaps they will employ a strategy of “a million flea bites” to win Hong Kong for China. It would certainly confound the White House. This article in the NY Times explains how China mounted a similar campaign againt the Muslim Uighur minority in Xingjiang – its chilling, and despite protests, it will likely work.

China under Xi is a nascent empire – with Chinese communist characteristics. Mainzi and power projection is important, but a response today is likely to be significantly more nuanced than we saw 30 years ago, and more mature. China has significant tools: electronic and media surveillance can work alongside already strong and loyal Chinese HINTEL resources within Hong Kong, including the now suborned Police force.

The fact Alibaba chose Hong Kong over Shanghai for its successful secondary listing shows Hong Kong still has value as China’s financial centre and gateway – why risk alienating it further? Rather than a dramatic clamp down, all China needs to do is keep up the pressure. They don’t want to compromise Hong Kong as a market hub. There are few signs of domestic China support for the Hong Kong dissidents – it’s completely unlike the student protests of 1989 in Beijing that could have destabilised the whole nation if not checked.

However, the protests will still require China to act. They just have to make sure they do so within acceptable parameters that won’t trigger international ire – that’s going to be a very delicate balancing act that will keep Occidental relations with China tense for years.

China may decide to apply pressure but not blows via its proxy legislative council and the Hong Kong Police. Like in Xinjiang, they won’t do anything dramatic, but make it increasingly uncomfortable. Demand the rule of law – like anti-mask rules - is followed, and respond quickly to requests for assistance, mainland troops, and support from the legislative body. China will argue it is not intervening, merely keeping the colony peaceful. Who can complain as protestors start to get pulled off the streets in greater numbers? It’s a domestic China affair. I’m afraid the rioting students don’t get a vote.

Carrie Lam’s law to allow the extradition of criminal cases for trial in China won’t be reintroduced – its apparently already happening. Reports relating to the recent imprisonment of a British consulate worker held on trumped up prostitution charges while visiting China speak of rioters already being held in Chinese jails. They admit their guilt in return for reduced sentences, are allowed to return home with a criminal record, and then leave Hong Kong of their own free will – which suits China perfectly. Every Hong Kong student who flees to Canada allows China to move in loyal mainland supporters – just as they do in Tibet.

Rather than a shock, China can afford to play a longer game, sniping down the insurrectionists one-by-one – the million flea bites. China is certainly less afraid of the west objecting. Although it’s still perhaps a bit early in terms of their military build-up and economic power projection for an all-out trade battle with the West, China is strong enough to fall back on internalising their domestic economy, secure in the knowledge they can endure an economic war, and that its likely to be short term as the west will suffer a downturn – bringing them to the negotiating table.

China probably can’t win such an economic war – the West will have to lose it by blinking first.

China’s policy on Hong Kong may become apparent when the riots inevitably wind down, and if vast numbers of young people leave Hong Kong, allowing the authorities to retain its business/financial base while making it a more Chinese City. That’ will be a far more convincing win for Xi that sending grieving HK parents bills for the bullets used to murder their children.

Meanwhile… Politics...

The UK election is really beginning to peeve me. It’s a confounded nuisance as it degenerates into a handbag slapping contest between entitled and patronaged-up buffoons on one side versus well-meaning idiotic incompetents on the other, leavened with a frosting of Brexit incredulity on top. I am so bored by them I might even vote Liberal… Yep, I will vote for the party I dislike the most just so it won’t be disappointed when it gets even worse.

It’s just as bad in the USA. Their next election apparently began the moment Trump won the last one. What the US needs is leadership, not squabbling political wannabes. Fake News dominates – my social media streams are dominated by articles presenting lies as irrefutable facts on “alleged” Democrat corruption. Throw enough mud and it sticks - ask an entirely innocent man if he still beats his wife, and very quickly the entire world believe he does. And the Republicans fare little better, seeing their candidate repeatedly swamped by the swamp.

Next year’s US election is shaping up to be the most unpleasant, nastiest, more horrible MOAB we’ve ever seen. Its already started.

Democracy is the very worst form of government, except for anything else.

Both the UK and US are guilty of over-demonising the left. Rich and Uber-Rich Americans appear united in one thing: their love of the Trump presidency – and he loves them back. They fear one thing – the Democrat left wing might win the election and thus destroy America. It’s the same picture here in the UK, where business and finance is vehement about the Corbyn danger.

Forgive my temerity, but obviously rich Americans have more right to comment than poor Americans because they are Rich Americans? And Rich Americans are united in their unquestioning belief the US stock market will immediately collapse if a Democrat Woman gets to redecorate the White House? In fact, the moment it even looks like a Democrat might get in – except for that nice Joe Biden – the stock market will falter. (Republicans like Joe Biden because they all sincerely believe he has been terribly corrupt in Ukrainia and thus he will get thrown out if he gets in. (It’s a mad world – but its America..))

“The S&P will tumble 25%” if Elizabeth Warren becomes President, says Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones. Mark Mobius says a 25% fall is “probably possible” (yeah?). Warren is the leading democrat contender. Why do the right hate her? Because she is proposing a single-digit tax on billionaire households? Because bank executives told a TV host “she’s got to be stopped”, which Warren immediately tweeted her support for (smart use of twitter).

Her full programme is likely to include a host of programmes designed to peeve the rich: a transaction tax on the top 1% of households, changing the rules on private equity leveraging up companies via debt, regulation of big tech, and a new Medicare for all proposal.

There you have it, from the lips of Hedge fund managers and billionaires – the ultimate truth. America is rich because you have made them rich. To undo that will destroy the country (US readers - this is called Sarcasm.)

Yep, these are dangerous beliefs and policies giving the poor money and helping the middle classes, it will be the end of Amerikay completely… I hear Warren is going to ban Apple Pie and Grits (whatever they might be…)

We really should get over our fear of the left. Why should only the Right have the right to completely f**k up the UK and USA?

I say give the goddamn commies a turn.

Tyler Durden Thu, 11/21/2019 - 09:38 Tags Politics

Biden's Black Vote Blunder And Tulsi Vs. Kamala 2.0: Key Highlights From Last Night's Democratic Debate

21 November 2019

Biden's Black Vote Blunder And Tulsi Vs. Kamala 2.0: Key Highlights From Last Night's Democratic Debate

The top 10 Democratic presidential candidates took to the stage last night for the fifth debate, where they spent the first portion of the evening condemning President Trump's Ukraine dealings before trading barbs with each other.

Overall, Elizabeth Warren spoke them most, followed by Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg and Cory Booker.

Via Bloomberg

Candidates were expected to attack Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who is now viewed as the Iowa frontrunner - however the pile-on landed more softly than many had projected, according to Axios.

Via Bloomberg

Joe Biden had numerous gaffes and mid-sentence derailments, 'blowing four tires' according to CNN. Perhaps the most embarrassing of which was when he said that he "came out of the black community" and has the support of the "only bla- African American woman to be elected to Congress," to which candidates Cory Booker and Kamala Harris interjected "that's not true!" with Harris, who is black, saying "the other one is here."

BIDEN: I have more people supporting me in the black community … the only bla..African-American woman that’s ever been elected to the United States Senate. BOOKER/HARRIS: That’s not true. HARRIS: No, the other one is here ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/TupFgrxvLg

— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) November 21, 2019 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Biden also took heat from Booker for saying this week that he wouldn't legalize marijuana:

Cory Booker to Joe Biden: "This week I hear him literally say that I don’t think we should legalize marijuana. I thought you might have been high when you said it." #demdebate https://t.co/u9aiISXBvU pic.twitter.com/RUZ26t50WD

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 21, 2019

Biden also let men know that you can't hit a woman, unless it's in self defense, and that when it comes to domestic violence "we have to keep punching at it and punching at it."

First, Joe Biden talks about how Men can only hit women in 'Self defense' Then he proceeds to use the term"punching it, punching it, and punching it" in the very next sentence... That's one heck of a front runner the Democratic Party has... pic.twitter.com/DaeLq0mgcL

— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) November 21, 2019

Biden struggled to gather his thoughts at multiple points in the debate.

Joe Biden is reduced to nonsensical stammering because he is so overcome with joy at the sudden news that he became a new grandfather today 😘pic.twitter.com/8b9kGHGGlR

— Benny (@bennyjohnson) November 21, 2019

Another notable moment came when Kamala Harris attacked Tulsi Gabbard for attacking Democrats, meeting with Syrian 'war criminal' Bashar al Assad, and going on Fox News.

"I think that it's unfortunate that we have someone on this stage ... who during the Obama administration spent four years full time on Fox News criticizing President Obama," said Harris.

Kamala Harris went after Tulsi Gabbard for attacking Democrats and going on Fox News https://t.co/mGd9OJaUqd pic.twitter.com/KxuiFqWNEK

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) November 21, 2019

Fact Checks via AP:

BERNIE SANDERS: “What the scientists are telling us is if we don’t get our act together within the next eight or nine years, we’re talking about cities all over the world, major cities going underwater, we’re talking about increased drought, we’re talking about increased extreme weather disturbances.”

THE FACTS: To be clear, the world’s big cities aren’t going to go underwater for good in as soon as eight to nine years. The Vermont senator’s reference to eight to nine years seems to refer to standard warnings of the expected temperature increases kicking in by roughly 2030, and the progressively worse weather extremes that will keep following.

___

JOE BIDEN: “The fact is the vast majority of Democrats do not support Medicare for All.”

THE FACTS: That statement is at odds with a Kaiser Family Foundation poll out this week. It found that 77% of Democrats support Medicare for All.

Even more — 88% — support a “public option” proposal such as the one Biden advocates. It would allow people to buy into a new government insurance plan modeled on Medicare, but it would not completely replace private insurance. Overall, 53% of Americans support Medicare for All, while 43% oppose it, according to the Kaiser poll.

It’s also true, though, that public support for Medicare for All declines when costs and other, similar details are introduced in the polling.

ELIZABETH WARREN: “Today in America — a new study came out — 20 years out, (of) whites who borrowed money, 94 percent have paid off their student loan debt, 5 percent of African Americans have paid it off.”

THE FACTS: That’s not right. Warren appears to be citing a September report from Brandeis University’s Institute on Assets and Social Policy. The study found that, 20 years after starting college, 49% of white borrowers had paid off their loans entirely (not 94% of them) compared with 26% of black borrowers (not 5%).

The study also found that the typical white student had paid off 94% of his or her debt, while the typical black borrower had only paid off 5%. Warren cited those statistics, but in the wrong way.

She’s correct that there are disparities by race when it comes to paying back student loans. Other studies have similarly found that black borrowers are at greater risk of default than their white counterparts.

___

TULSI GABBARD: “The most recent example of inexperience in national security and foreign policy came from your recent careless statement about how you as president would be willing to send our troops to Mexico to fight the cartels.”

PETE BUTTIGIEG: “That is outlandish, even by the standards of today’s politics. ... I was talking about U.S.-Mexico cooperation. We’ve been doing security cooperation with Mexico for years, with law enforcement cooperation and a military relationship that could continue to be developed with training relationships, for example. Do you seriously think anybody on this stage is proposing invading Mexico?”

GABBARD: “You were asked directly whether you would send our troops to Mexico to fight cartels and your answer was yes. The fact checkers can check this out.”

THE FACTS: Neither offered a fully accurate account in their exchange.

Gabbard did not accuse Buttigieg of being open to “invading” Mexico, as he suggested she did. But she did not explain the context of his remarks at a Latino-issues forum in Los Angeles on Sunday.

At the forum, he heavily conditioned the idea of sending troops to help Mexico fight the drug and gang war, saying he would only do so if Mexico wanted the assistance as part of a security partnership.

"There is a scenario where we could have security cooperation as we do with countries around the world,” he said in Los Angeles. “I would only order American troops into conflict if there were no other choice, if American lives were on the line and if this were necessary in order for us to uphold our treaty obligations.

“But we could absolutely be in some kind of partnership role if and only if it is welcome by our partner south of the border."

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Tyler Durden Thu, 11/21/2019 - 09:20 Tags Politics

Mish: Without A Doubt, Boris Johnson United The Tory Party

21 November 2019

Mish: Without A Doubt, Boris Johnson United The Tory Party

Authored by Mike Shedlock via MishTalk,

Boris Johnson united the Tories. In contrast, Jeremy Corbyn failed to unite Labour.

Six Point Compelling Picture In Chronological Order

Theresa May failed to deliver Brexit.

Support for the Tory Party collapsed.

Support for the Brexit Party soared.

Support for the Labour party collapsed as well

Things reversed for the Tories the moment it became apparent Boris Johnson would be the next Prime Minister.

Support for Labour, even after a recent surge languishes well below where it was a year ago.

You can like the trends or not, but there is no denying what the chart shows.

Meanwhile, I keep hearing ad nauseum that Labour is ahead of where it was when Theresa May called for elections in 2017.

Let's investigate that notion.

Polling Trends in 2017

We are Here

Please compare the above chart with the lead chart.

Spot any differences?

For starters, Corbyn is not ahead af 2017. It seems to be a tie with Corbyn fading fast.

This is Not 2017

This is 2019, not 2017.

The trends before and since the election was called are not remotely comparable.

Theresa May was never very popular or likeable.

Corbyn was in a honeymoon period.

Today, Corbyn is the most unpopular opposition leader in UK history.

Corbyn is Amazingly Unpopular

NEW: everyone knows Corbyn’s unpopularity is a problem for Labour, but I’m not sure people appreciate how bad it is https://t.co/R1DRmBAyRo Corbyn’s net satisfaction ratings are at -60, by far the lowest going into an election since @IpsosMORI started tracking this in 1979. pic.twitter.com/3S9ZgACtkn

— John Burn-Murdoch (@jburnmurdoch) November 19, 2019 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Unless there is some sort of debate rally, Corbyn will be behind in 3 days, way behind in a week, and undeniably and impossibly behind in two weeks with the election the following week.

That is what the trends say. There is no point in denying the obvious.

Let's discuss why this is.

Corbyn's Message Does Not Resonate

Corbyn's message "Negotiate a deal then hold a referendum on it" does not resonate.

And why should it?

People, even Remainers are sick of this. Corbyn pledged to honor the referendum and didn't.

He wants another one. And after a bit he will support a referendum for Scotland too. He refused to rule it out.

And if he needs SNP support to break a deadlock in the case of a hung election, is there any doubt he won't grant one immediately?

Union Question

A question came up in the debate: Is the union more important than Brexit?

Johnson answered yes. Corbyn didn't. He couldn't because he supports a Scotland referendum, not now, but later.

Of course, later means now if there is a hung election. For all this talk of Johnson busting up the union, please take a look at Corbyn.

I saw no media commentary on this at all. I wonder what the fence sitters think.

UK Election Debate: Johnson Wins by Not Losing

Yesterday, I commented UK Election Debate: Johnson Wins by Not Losing

A YouGov poll gave Johnson a small win. Look, a 51-49 "victory" is a tie in this kind of thing.

The media commentary on the outcome was quite amazing.

The Guardian and others proclaimed Corbyn the winner, despite the immediate polls, because Corbyn did better than expected and allegedly landed more blows.

Say what?

Boring Debate

I watched the entire debate. For the most part it was boring. And boring is precisely what Johnson wanted.

If anything, Johnson went well out of his way to be purposely boring!

Let that sink in.

Corbyn did not need boring, he needed a blowout and failed to deliver. If you score the debate by what was needed, Corbyn lost badly.

Nonetheless, straight up, I stick with my assessment: It was a tie. Spin that however you want because I just did.

Referendum on Corbyn

Despite Johnson's insistence on making this a referendum on Brexit, what's really happening is the campaign has morphed into a referendum on Corbyn himself.

That's a pretty amazing poll.

A whopping 51.9% of men and 42.0% of women believe johnson would make the best Prime Minister!

Also note that Jo Swinson tops Jeremy Corbyn among women and age groups 55-64 and 65-74.

Not even 18-24 year-olds prefer Corbyn. The only demographic in which Corbyn leads is 25-34 year-olds.

For further discussion of the above chart, please see Fear of Corbyn Outweighs Fear of Brexit.

Expect More Boringness

At this juncture, Johnson simply wants to avoid any major gaffes.

Expect more "Let's get Brexit Done" boringness.

Tyler Durden Thu, 11/21/2019 - 09:05

Watch Live: Impeachment Hearings Farce Continues After "Great Day For GOP"

21 November 2019

Watch Live: Impeachment Hearings Farce Continues After "Great Day For GOP"

WATCH LIVE: Open Hearing with Dr. Fiona Hill and David Holmes

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8XjYjVsDXE]

* * *

At 9 am est., the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence will hold an open hearing with Dr. Fiona Hill, Former Senior Director for Europe and Russia, National Security Council and David Holmes, Political Counselor, U.S Embassy to Ukraine.

Hill is expected to shed light on former-National Security Advisor John Bolton's actions surrounding President Trump and his attorney, Rudy Giuliani, who allegedly asked the Ukrainian government to investigate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, for wrongdoing.

Hill, in advanced testimony Thursday, warned lawmakers against believing a “fictional narrative” that it was Ukraine and not Russia that interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

“This is a fictional narrative that has been perpetrated and propagated by the Russian security services themselves,” Hill said in prepared remarks.

“The unfortunate truth is that Russia was the foreign power that systematically attacked our democratic institutions in 2016. This is the public conclusion of our intelligence agencies, confirmed in bipartisan Congressional reports. It is beyond dispute, even if some of the underlying details must remain classified.”

Hill emphasized that she is a nonpartisan foreign policy expert, who has served under three different Republican and Democratic presidents and that she has “no interest in advancing the outcome of your inquiry in any particular direction, except toward the truth.”

She warned that U.S. national security has been harmed by the politicization of support for Ukraine.

“The Russian government’s goal is to weaken our country -- to diminish America’s global role and to neutralize a perceived U.S. threat to Russian interests,” she said.

“President Putin and the Russian security services aim to counter U.S. foreign policy objectives in Europe, including in Ukraine, where Moscow wishes to reassert political and economic dominance.”

Hill added, “I respect the work that this Congress does in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities, including in this inquiry, and I am here to help you to the best of my ability. If the President, or anyone else, impedes or subverts the national security of the United States in order to further domestic political or personal interests, that is more than worthy of your attention. But we must not let domestic politics stop us from defending ourselves against the foreign powers who truly wish us harm.”

Holmes testified behind closed doors earlier this month that he heard U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland telling President Trump over a phone conversation that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "loves your ass."

Sondland testified Wednesday that Trump conditioned a meeting with Zelensky about withholding aid for dirt on Biden's son.

"I know that members of this committee have frequently framed these complicated issues in the form of a simple question: Was there a 'quid pro quo?' As I testified previously, with regard to the requested White House call and White House meeting, the answer is yes," Sondland said, later adding that "everyone was in the loop."

Trump dismissed Sondland's testimony, telling reporters Wednesday he didn't know the Sondland very well.

Trump claims that the latest round of public impeachment hearings is a sham. He said it's going to be a "great" day for him and the GOP, indicating that leftist media wasn't covering the impeachment hearings fairly.

"The Republican Party, and me, had a GREAT day yesterday with respect to the phony Impeachment Hoax, & yet, when I got home to the White House & checked out the news coverage on much of television, you would have no idea they were reporting on the same event," Trump said on Twitter, echoing comments he's made throughout the House impeachment inquiry. "FAKE & CORRUPT NEWS!"

Tyler Durden Thu, 11/21/2019 - 08:55 Tags Politics

Jeremy Corbyn unveils manifesto splurging billions on nationalisation

21 November 2019

Jeremy Corbyn is trying to kick-start his stuttering campaign by launching the 'radical and ambitious' hard-Left programme in Birmingham.

Sainsbury's, Tesco and ASDA recall heartburn and indigestion drugs over contamination fears

21 November 2019

The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency today announced the supermarket products were among 13 new additions to a months-long string of recalls.

Canadian vaper, 17, suffers a new type of e-cigarette illness dubbed 'popcorn lung'

21 November 2019

An X-ray scan of the teen, from Ontario, revealed tiny opacities - build-ups of material such as fluid - in both of his lungs, which the doctors said was a sign of bronchiolitis or 'popcorn lung'.

Advent of the £100k designer calendar, dahling

21 November 2019

In recent years the advent calendar has become far more sophisticated - and commercialised. But are any good value? Here's our pick of the money-no-object luxury options.

Prince Andrew is smiling and waving as he breaks cover for the first time since the Queen sacked him

21 November 2019

The Duke of York is expected to discuss losing his salary and how his future as a royal will be limited to smaller family events in more crisis talks with his mother this afternoon.