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Quick Quotes

“I feel as if an angel must be looking after me.”

Writer Lee Hall, who is collaborating with Paul McCartney on a stage-version of "It's A Wonderful Life." The former Beatle will write the songs for the production, expected to debut next year. This is the first stage musical for McCartney.
Quick Quotes

“The heat is forecast to be oppressive and dangerous everywhere, with possibly some of the hottest conditions since 2012.”

Chicago's Weather Service Office. Over the next 7 days, more than half the United States is expected to experience temperatures of 95 degrees or higher. Heat kills more Americans on average than any other form of extreme weather.
Quick Quotes

“I wish that all of you would ask me about prescription drugs.”

Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) responding to reporters Wed. as the House voted not to impeach the Pres. after voting to censure him for controversial remarks. The House also voted Wed. to hold the Attorney Gen. & Commerce Sec. in contempt for not complying with an investigation. Some Democrats have voiced concerns about the perception that they are hyper-focused on the administration & not on other legislation.
Quick Quotes

“We know that Trump isn’t a sweetheart sometimes. But we’re not going for that.”

North Carolina resident Esther Jimenez who attended a rally for Pres. Trump with her husband. Both come from immigrant families and support the President’s border wall proposal. At one point the crowd chanted to “send her back” - a reference to an immigrant congresswoman who has criticized the President. This is the President's 6th visit to the state he narrowly won in 2016.
Quick Quotes

“Quite honestly, once our officers got there they found it quite ingenious.”

Lt. Tony Ferderber describing the reaction as local police in Brigham City, Utah responded to a call about a young man holding up a sign that said, "ICE COLD BEER" - only to realize he was selling ROOT beer. Setting up drink stands (for lemonade or root beer) without city permits is only allowed in 14 states - Utah is one of them.
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Now You Know

WHY CENSURE?

It’s not a constitutional power granted explicitly by name to Congress, but lawmakers have slapped a censure on four sitting Presidents.

Pres. Trump makes history as #5.

Why It Matters

Now You Know

What Happened:

  • The Democrat-led House of Representatives voted to censure Pres. Trump for a tweet he wrote about Democrat lawmakers.
  • Critics called the tweet racist; the President denies it.
  • We placed the entire tweet on the source page for you to read in full.
  • The resolution to censure Pres. Trump passed along party lines: 240-187.
Now You Know

What Happens Now?

Practically: Not much. It’s a public reprimand with no other actionable or legal punishment.

Politically: Democrats can rally together, showing a united front against a Republican president ahead of an election year. President Trump can also use this to rally his base.

Now You Know

Interesting To Note:

  • Congress can punish lawmakers three ways: expulsion, censure and reprimand.
  • Expulsion is the only punishment mentioned by name in the constitution. 
  • Censure evolved as a punishment starting in 1800s.
  • Other Presidents censured: Presidents Jackson, Lincoln, Taft & Buchanan.
Now You Know

The first time censure was considered in Congress? In 1798, when one state lawmaker spat on another; ultimately there was no censure vote. Mostly censure has been used for bad behavior: "defamatory or insulting statements."

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Quick Quotes

“…the earliest, sharpest, and most accurate surviving video images of man’s first steps on the moon.”

Sotheby's on 3 NASA film reels to be auctioned Saturday, the 50th anniversary of the first moon walk. A former NASA intern (now 65 years old) bought them in the 1970s. The original recordings of the moon walk likely have been destroyed or erased during a NASA film shortage.
Quick Quotes

“I am leaving because the new board chairs and I have philosophical differences over the direction and future of Planned Parenthood.”

Dr. Leana Wen was forced out of her role leading Planned Parenthood on Tuesday after 8 months. A former ER doctor, Wen was the first physician to lead the largest "reproductive rights" organization in decades. Wen indicated she wanted to address abortion as a healthcare issue, rather than a political one.
Quick Quotes

“The Rule is a part of an unlawful effort to significantly undermine, if not virtually repeal, the U.S. asylum system at the southern border, and cruelly closes our doors to refugees fleeing persecution, forcing them to return to harm.”

Lawsuit filed Tuesday by civil rights groups in response to a new rule announced Monday requiring asylum seekers traveling to the U.S. southern border to apply in another country first before applying in America.
Quick Quotes

“With the U.S. unilaterally reneging on its commitments, we are gradually losing our justifications to follow through on the commitments we made with the U.S. as well.”

North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency Tuesday, threatening to resume nuclear tests if the U.S. and South Korea don't delay their military drills planned for next month. This only weeks after Pres. Trump made an unplanned visit to North Korea's border as a show of commitment to diplomacy.
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Coffee Talk
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Quick Quotes

“Ryan was a beloved warrior who epitomized the quiet professional.”

Col. Brian R. Rauen on the news Sgt. Maj. James “Ryan” Sartor was killed in action in Afghanistan. The Dept. of Defense provided no further details. The Taliban claimed responsibility. The U.S. has recently called “peace talks” with the Taliban “the most productive to date.” Sgt. Maj. Sartor, a decorated Green Beret, is the 12th American soldier killed in combat this year.
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“This is indeed a national security issue.”

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Facebook's plans to unleash a digital currency. Facebook has more than 2 billion users worldwide (approx. 2/7 of the world's population) and many officials have expressed concerns about cryptocurrencies negatively impacting the global economy. Facebook has said it believes the cryptocurrency, "Libra," may offer a "profound change for the entire world."
Quick Quotes

“(T)here are no shortcuts and this nominee, like every nominee to this critical post, must be thoroughly vetted and carefully evaluated.”

Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) on the expedited confirmation hearing Tuesday for Sec. of Defense. Pres. Trump nominated Mark Esper for the cabinet position. Esper has been acting SecDef since June; he is a Marine & former Wall Street exec. Since the resignation of Sec. James Mattis in December, the U.S. has experienced the longest period in its history without a permanent SecDef.
Quick Quotes

“I tell them to be quiet, you don’t want to wake her.”

New Yorker Robert Dixon who works as a visitor services representative at the iconic Belvedere Castle in Central Park. Dixon says this is what he tells children who are looking for princesses in the tower of the building that just received a $12M renovation. The castle, built in 1872, has served as the "home" of The Count on Sesame Street and the backdrop to numerous movies (and an "illegal" wedding or two).
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Current Events

APPLYING FOR ASYLUM…
JUST CHANGED IN AMERICA

 

The White House announces a new rule for asylum seekers arriving at the U.S. southern border.

Current Events

PAST POLICY

  • Asylum seekers arriving at the southern border undergo a “credible fear” interview to show if they’re eligible for asylum.
  • Those with credible claims get referred to an immigration court.
  • To be granted asylum, an individual must prove a well-founded fear of persecution based on nationality, religion, race, politics, or social group.
Current Events

NEW RULE

Anyone who passes through another country en route to U.S. southern border w/o applying for protection from persecution or torture in a third country is ineligible for asylum in the U.S. …

EXCEPT if person is victim of trafficking, did not pass through a country with a refugee treaty, or applied but was denied protection.

Current Events

Context to Know:

  • Between 2012-2017, the number of those applying for asylum from Northern Triangle countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) increased 800%. 
  • Approx. 1 out of 4 people (27%) last year ultimately received asylum status.
  • Asylum seekers can stay in the U.S. awaiting court dates; the U.S. has a backlog of 200,000+ cases.
Current Events

“Ultimately, today’s action will reduce the overwhelming burdens on our domestic system caused by asylum-seekers failing to seek urgent protection in the first available country, economic migrants lacking a legitimate fear of persecution, and the transnational criminal organizations, traffickers, and smugglers exploiting our system for profits.”

DHS Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan
Current Events

Organizations like the ACLU promise to "sue swiftly" for "trying to unilaterally reverse our country's legal and moral commitment to protect those fleeing danger." The top 3 countries with the most asylum applications granted: China, El Salvador & Guatemala.

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Quote of the Day

“Don’t be afraid to say ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I don’t understand’ – no question is a dumb question.”

Margaret Hamilton 

Quote of the Day

#OTD 50 years ago the Apollo 11 mission launched. Computer scientist Margaret Hamilton lead the team that wrote the software for the Apollo 11 mission, earning her the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her contribution to the first successful moon landing.

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SmartHER News

SPECIAL REPORT

 

 

3 Things To Know About Deportations in America Today

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Worth-It-To-See
Worth-It-To-See

A former jet-skiing champion turned entrepreneur developed the hoover board shown France's Bastille Day parade. But is it for real? Check out a few facts on our source page.

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Quote of the Day

“I just tried to fight and find a way when it mattered the most.”

Novak Djokovic

Quote of the Day

Tennis player Novak Djokovic beat crowd-favorite Roger Federer Sunday in the longest Wimbledon singles final in history - it lasted nearly 5 hours. Djokovic called it the "most demanding match" of his career.

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Now You Know

What’s The Deal With Deportations?

 

 

ICE raids. Threats of arrests. Heated political debate.

What’s the real deal when it comes to *deportations* in America?

Now You Know

What To Know

ICE uses 2 deportation categories:

Removals: a person who had been in the U.S. illegally, received a court order of removal (deportation), and is confirmed to have left.

Returns: a person who did not receive a court order of removal but leaves the U.S. – i.e., someone turned away at the border who exits the country.

Now You Know

Context Matters

How the U.S. handles deportations over the last 20 years changes depending on how you look at these categories.

  • “Removals” peaked during the Obama administration: 432,448
  • “Returns” peaked during the Clinton administration: 1,675,876
  • Since 2013, both removals & returns have declined.
Now You Know

BIG PICTURE

  • Up to this point, the Trump admin. has deported fewer people than the Obama admin. The Obama admin deported fewer people than the Bush & Clinton administrations.
  • ICE says 1 million+ people have currently received final removal notices. 2,000 were reportedly the focus of this weekend’s raids.
Now You Know

“The Trump administration would have to increase the pace of interior removals dramatically to reach Obama’s previous peak.  Unless something dramatic changes, that won’t happen…”

The Cato Institute says Obama admin (which focused on illegal immigrants w/criminal records) received more support from local law enforcement than Trump admin (which focuses on the record # of families apprehended crossing the border) when it comes to enforcing immigration laws.
Now You Know

When focusing on illegal immigration in the "interior" of America (outside of the southern border), less than 1% of the total estimated illegal immigrant population has been removed in recent years.

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