DML Briefing: Sep 9

Today is September 9.  Here are the stories I am following.

1-Taliban overreached
Peace talks between the U.S. and leaders from Afghanistan and the Taliban have been called off after the Taliban admitted they were behind a deadly bombing in Kabul last week that resulted in the death of a U.S. soldier. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said this Sunday the Taliban “overreached” and showed that they cannot be trusted to move forward with a peace process at this point in time. “What they did here was they tried to use terror to improve their negotiating position,” he told “Fox News Sunday.”

DML: This meeting made about as much sense as buying Greenland.

2-Top Republican blasts Dem over impeachment
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee are looking to formally define what Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., has referred to as impeachment proceedings against President Trump. Leading ranking member Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., believes they are committing a “travesty.”Democrats on the committee are planning on voting on how the investigation is defined, through a resolution that would set the boundaries of the probe, Politico reported. Collins pointed out what he believes are problems with how Democrats have conducted their investigation, claiming that they have acted outside the boundaries of House rules and may have made misrepresentations in court filings.

DML: The Dems are imploding, and this will hurt them in 2020. Thank goodness.

3-Congress returns from recess
As Congress heads back to work on Monday in Washington after a six-week recess, lawmakers who already have struggled to pass substantive legislation this term are set to grapple with a slew of combustible issues, ranging from trade deals and border wall funding to gun control and impeachment proceedings. With an already heated presidential cycle in full swing, experts have said the political landscape would afford little hope for legislative compromise, but plenty of opportunity for gamesmanship and stonewalling.

DML: Nothing will get done, and I am more interested to see how they fund the government by Oct. 1 to avert another shutdown.

4-Big Tech in antitrust probe crosshairs
Tech giants are facing greater legal risks than ever before, opening up the possibility that they may have to pay big money to resolve probes alleging unfair business practices against them. Coming under increased scrutiny Friday were Facebook and Alphabet Inc.’s Google unit. Separate antitrust probes into the two big tech firms are expected to start as early as Monday, according to the Wall Street Journal.

DML: If you hate Facebook and Google raise your hand.  I’ll have to write #5 with one hand…

5-Trump calls out John Legend, Chrissy Teigen 
President Trump late Sunday took to Twitter to identify his own success in criminal justice reform and called out celebrities for not acknowledging his efforts, namely singer John Legend and his “filthy mouthed wife” Chrissy Teigen. Trump blasted the singer and his wife “for talking now about how great” the reform is, but not playing a role when it mattered.  Trump signed the First Step Act into law last year that reduces mandatory minimum sentences in certain instances and gives judges more discretion. More than 3,100 inmates will be released under the act, which has been praised by both Republicans and Democrats. Legend responded to Trump’s tweet by appealing to the first lady Melania Trump.

DML: A majority of the inmates released under this new program were hard criminals, and not petty drug pushers.  Another government mess up! That said, it is impossible to ignore how much energy Trump has these days when going after the Hollywierd people.  It would be no surprise if the DML PURE CBD starter pack I shipped to Washington DC last month went to the president.  You too can have great energy and less pain.  Go to DMLcbd.com