Legalectric

In Variety:

White House’s New Press Conference Rules Pose New Problems

It’s appropriate that this be in Variety, as this is an un-reality White House show.

And the rules?

Please be advised of the following rules governing future press conferences:

(1) A journalist called upon to ask a question will ask a single question and then will yield the floor to other journalists;

(2) At the discretion of the President or other White House official taking questions, a follow-up question or questions may be permitted; and where a follow up has been allowed and asked, the questioner will then yield the floor;

(3) “Yielding the floor” includes, when applicable, surrendering the microphone to White House staff for use by the next questioner;

(4) Failure to abide by any of rules (1)-(3) may result in suspension or revocation of the journalist’s hard pass.

On a side note, take a look at the White House site. It used to have clear pages across the top for Press Releases, live broadcasts, and a listing of Executive Orders and Proclamations.  Now?  It’s gone.  It’s available in the upper lefthand corner, the lines which will give you a menu.

Michael Cohen’s happy face

Colin Kalmbacher done good, this has got to be the most hilarious hearing of the year:

• Why Sean Hannity’s Name was Revealed in Court (Hint: It’s Mostly Michael Cohen Attorneys’ Fault)

• Top 10 Times Michael Cohen and Donald Trump’s Attorneys Got Schooled in Court

And a quick summary from Kalmbacher:

Colin Kalmbacher A lot of people have asked for a general run-down. Here’s a brief attempt:

(1) Lines were long and the SDNY was a media circus–Eliot Spitzer showed up to glam for the cameras;

(2) The attorneys waiting to get in were confused by the press presence at first but quickly understood and started arguing about the issues involved with FBI raid, quickly agreeing that no lawyers should be raided;

(3) Stormy Daniels and Michael Avenatti showed up with minutes to spare and almost didn’t get in–but Avenatti pulled some strings;

(4) The prosecution is competent but non-controversial;

(5) Aside from saying things like “Michael Cohen has more attorneys than clients.”

(6) Cohen’s attorneys went to Upstairs Hollywood Law School and tried their level best not to make any legal arguments–mostly cabining their advocacy on public policy and fairness;

(7) Trump’s attorney annoyed everyone on multiple occasions and the less said the better;

(8) The Trump Organization was just happy to be there–very gracious, very confused-sounding, submitting themselves to the mercy of the court for some reason–they just wanted to take part in the privilege determinations but didn’t really say anything;

(9) Judge Kimba Wood showed no obvious preferences and did her best to make everyone a little upset

(10) The press amici killed it and is half of the reason we know about Sean Hannity–the other half is Steve Ryan’s incompetence.

And then there’s this… law is such fun!

The Supreme Court just handed the Trump administration a loss on immigration — and Gorsuch was the tiebreaking vote

 

Here it is, published in the Federal Register today:

Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats

tRump claims that:

…the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, has determined that a small number of countries—out of nearly 200 evaluated—remain deficient at this time with respect to their identity-management and information-sharing capabilities, protocols, and practices. In some cases, these countries also have a significant terrorist presence within their territory.

Oh?!?!  Yes, he says, “Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen” plus Somalia.

Where does he get these ideas?  How is this anything but WRONG!

Here we go with another round of lawsuits…

Hate incidents, also knows as “The Trump Effect” are being tracked, big job, way too many, and it’s being updated constantly.  One more in Minnesota, from the STrib:

Snapchat pic of dead deer, N-word has attention of Maple Grove Police

This is happening so often now, and here’s the list that was posted today:

Post-Election 2016 Hate Incidents (spreadsheet)

From Southern Poverty Law Center:

Terror from the Right