Business Insider By ELIZA RELMAN Feb 27th 2018 Josh Raffel, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump's right-hand man, is leaving the White House after nine months, Axios reported on Tuesday afternoon. Raffel, who previously worked with Kushner and Hope Hicks as a New York public-relations executive, handled much of the communications work for the first daughter and her husband, also a top presidential aide. Josh Raffel, the deputy White House communications director and right-hand man to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, is leaving the White House after less than a year on the job, Axios reported on Tuesday afternoon. "Josh is honest, passionate and thoughtful. Whether it was offering strategic guidance on the communications for tax reform or a foreign trip, Josh's guidance was invaluable," Ivanka said in a statement to Axios. "The White House won't be the same without him." A former Hollywood publicist, Raffel joined the White House last April to oversee communications for the Kushner-led Office of American Innovation. He quickly took over media relations for Kushner and Ivanka, while remaining an integral part of the West Wing communications shop. "I probably talk to Josh 30 times a day," White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told BuzzFeed last August. "I certainly wouldn't say he's doing personal PR, but he handles a lot of things in [Kushner and Ivanka Trump's] portfolio." Last fall, Raffel was promoted to deputy communications director and managed communications for the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and issues involving the National Economic Council and the National Security Council. Raffel, a former Democrat and Hillary Clinton supporter, had previously worked with Kushner. He represented Kushner Companies while a public-relations executive at Hiltzik Strategies, where he worked alongside eventual White House communications director Hope Hicks. Raffel's exit comes as Hicks, with whom he was reportedly close friends, is testifying before the House Intelligence Committee as part of its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Raffel has told colleagues that he is moving back to New York to attend to family obligations and will return to the private sector, Axios reported. Raffel did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
Let's hear from Witchy : How did the country go from a Great President like Obama who was respected around the world to the disaster in office now? Millions celebrated Obama in 2008 in the US and around the world. Millions have protested Trump in the US and around the world. Now it is said the US is no longer viewed as a world power thanks to Trump. Look at Manafort, Nunes, Comey, Snowden, Flynn, Sessions, Page, Stone, Jared, Trump and more! Are these men of Honor, Valor, Ethics, and Integrity? Ha, they are more like double agents, crooks, or criminals with more of an allegiance to themselves and Russia than a love of the US! Is America great yet? How is Trump care working for You? Is Mexico paying for the wall? Have they reduced the debt or passed nfrastructure? What has trump done about hacking? Nothing! Our country's corporations and individuals hacked over and over. Obama helped 20 million people get healthcare that never had it before. Obama created 20 million jobs after W crashed the economy even though he faced obstruction. Obama got Bin Lauden and brought the troops home saving the country money instead of paying for two wars. Obama brought the unemployment rate down from 10% to below 4.6%. The stock market went from a record low of below 6000 points to over 19600 points. I retired debt free thanks to Obama! Everyday under trump is just more bad news! Can we please get this crooked admin out of Government? What is it about the republican party today and criminals? Just ask Gates, Manafort, Sessions, Nunes, trump, Kushner, Eric, Papadolpous, Flynn and more. The GOP is the party of crooks, traitors, perv's and criminals!
Hey trump, the Fed's have their eye on you! What you going to do when they come for you? Bad Boy, Bad Boy, What you going to do when they come for you?
What happened to the republican party leadership? Where is Trey, Issa, Gomert, Ryan, Mitch and more? This is unbelievable. You guys are letting trump run all over you, Why? Just imagine the investigations that you would have held if Obama or Hillary had done such a thing. Your job is to protect the country, yet you yield to this traitor! Why! Can we please get these criminals out of Government?
Business Insider By BRENNAN WEISS Feb 21st 2018 A decade-old quote by Donald Trump, Jr. resurfaced in a New York Times column over the weekend. "In terms of high-end product influx into the US, Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets," President Donald Trump's eldest son said during a conference in New York in 2008. The comment has taken on new meaning since Trump's election. During a New York real estate conference in 2008, President Donald Trump's eldest son admitted that a lot of the family's assets come from Russia. "And in terms of high-end product influx into the US, Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets," Donald Trump, Jr. said while speaking at a New York real estate conference in 2008. "Say in Dubai, and certainly with our project in SoHo, and anywhere in New York. We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia." Amid special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, Trump, Jr.'s comments have taken on new meaning. The curious quote resurfaced in The New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman's latest op-ed, published on Sunday, which tears into Trump and his handling of Russian interference in the 2016 election. "President Trump is either totally compromised by the Russians or is a towering fool, or both, but either way he has shown himself unwilling or unable to defend America against a Russian campaign to divide and undermine our democracy," Friedman wrote. While much of Friedman's column was speculation, the decade-old quote from Trump, Jr. sheds new light on the Trump family's past financial holdings, although it does not implicate the Trumps in any illegal activity. Liberals have used Trump, Jr.'s words to illustrate their belief that Russia may have leverage over Trump because of his previous business dealings in the country. "My guess is what Trump is hiding has to do with money," Friedman said in his column. "It’s something about his financial ties to business elites tied to the Kremlin. They may own a big stake in him." 'It's clear Russia meddled' As far as we know, the Justice Department's investigation into Russian election meddling and whether Trump coordinated with any Russians in their efforts, has not found any evidence that Trump or members of his presidential campaign colluded with Russia in their attempts to sway the 2016 election. But the investigation is ongoing, and Mueller has not ruled out the possibility. Last week, the investigation took a turn when Mueller's office announced the indictment of 13 Russians and three Russian companies for sowing political discourse and meddling in the US political system in the run-up to the 2016 election. The indictment forced White House press secretary to defend the intelligence community's long-held assessment that Russia interfered. "It's very clear that Russia meddled in the election," Sanders said during a press conference on Tuesday. "I think one of the places where you [reporters] seem to get very confused — and it seems to happen regularly — is the president hasn't said that Russia didn't meddle. What he's saying is that it didn't have an impact and it certainly wasn't with help from the Trump campaign." Trump, who has repeatedly called the Russia investigation a "witch hunt," insists that there was no collusion. "Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for President," Trump said in a tweet last week. "The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong - no collusion!"
Witchy sez : Mini-Don stated much the same thing during the Trump campaign. One can consider the possibility that Putin has one firm grip over the Trumps; why else would an American family that proclaims to want to "make America great again" decide to sell us out to Russian ambitions? Trump couldn't borrow money anywhere else since he went 1.5 BILLION in debt. It wouldn't surprise me if Russia was looking into the future and taking a chance they could use some rich American to their advantage. Not especially because of politics but for some other reason. They weren't really risking anything since they held the notes on his property. POSSIBLE gain with very low risk. Trumps Presidency will never be viewed as legitimate, regardless of all the righties hooting and hollering no collusion. Whatever the outcome of the Mueller investigation, there will forever be a asterisk by Trumps name in the white house. Sorry righties but your boy is a joke. You and the Russians can go cry together. Trump is either totally compromised by the Russians or is a towering fool, or both, but either way he has shown himself unwilling or unable to defend America against a Russian campaign to divide and undermine our democracy," On the other side of the coin Kushner has a weak spot for avoiding jail!!! He didn't like visiting his father when he was there and most likely doesn't want his own kids doing that. How fast will he cave and sing like a canary? If Trump had a brain, he'd be getting Kushner out of hearing range instead of letting him stay with no security clearances! Question : every photo of Don Jr . looks like he's smelling something , maybe he smells how deep in s**t he's in ....HeHe
Nine years has passed , it seems like a short time ago we call you friend . We knew who you were thinking you would tell us in time , you never did , did you not trust us or just didn't care who you hurt . You was a lost soul reaching out , we felt your pain , from what you told us you had no family or friends to share your pain with , we knew the Mexican police was closing in on you . We enjoyed the time we spent with you , tried to make your life a little more worthwhile , let you know no man was worth losing your daughter over . When we found your blog it was fun to rack old Caruso over the coals for how he treat women , I realize you was so full of hate and the fun stopped , you was full of hate so I decided to start a blog so we could have fun we only wanted to gossip about our families and have a few laughs . You asked to be included on the blog with us , it was okay until you tried to turn it into a hate blog , Keyser befriended you and they dogged him so bad he moved his blog . We were the most hated ladies on the web , every Caruso blogger was after us , we weather the storm and the fan girls found out we was not haters , but we sure could fight . Now , where are they , all gone after nine years we are still here with 5 blogs , not bad for two women that didn't know a thing about blogging ... it was ten years last October 20, 2017 . You came back , we were happy to hear from you , we was kind of skeptical and wondered if the therapy help you with your hate . We waited ... didn't take long before you started another hate blog about Caruso , started up your old blog DCR , we knew you had not change . Witchy This is the post I wrote when we heard you was gone : "To A Fallen Comrade"We called friend February ,21 2009 Bad things are going to happen.Painful,ugly,frustrating events are going to take place.There are no way around getting your feeling hurt,having your ego bruised,your trust weighed,your heart broken...believe me my friend I have been there,I am so very thankful I had a strong belief in God and a strong family unit,from the understanding you gave us,you had neither.There is not much you can do while you are going through your challenges,and difficulties,but there is something that you can remember that will make it a bit easier to bear. Guilt says,there is nothing wrong in what I have done,shame says,"there is something wrong with me". You can eliminate guilt by making amends for what you have done.You cannot eliminate shame until you atone/repent for the heartache you have caused others.We are glad we got to know you,you was opening up to us....You needed a smile , a kind word...because we don't know what troubles others have....I wonder was you trying to tell Jeannie/I goodbye,I truly think you was.....we might be down by one,but honey we are still here..."The Partners in Crime".
You know I always said flowers meant friendship....well old friend these are for you from Jeannie/Cupcake.You will always be remember with fondness...Its time now to write the book the three(3) of us talked about. Jeannie said you could do it...But hey that's just me...(GIGGLES) . Cupcake We hope you are well and happy .
The 37-page indictment details efforts to support Trump and undermine Clinton. By CASEY MICHEL FEB 16, 2018 A bombshell indictment released Friday by the office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller accused 13 individuals and a trio of Russian companies of “interference operations targeting the United States.” The indictment primarily details the efforts of the Internet Research Agency — the Russian organization responsible for spearheading Moscow’s social media interference operations during the 2016 U.S. election. While the 37-page indictment doesn’t identify any new Facebook or Twitter accounts created by the IRA, it does detail the methods with which the Russian operatives skirted and allegedly broke U.S. law — as well as hints at the Americans with whom they communicated. The biggest takeaway from the indictment — alongside the details of the operations, from bank transfers to false identities — likely comes with the confirmation that Russian social media interference operations were dedicated to “supporting the presidential campaign of [Donald Trump] and disparaging Hillary Clinton.” As the indictment reads: [Russian operatives] engaged in operations primarily intended to communicate derogatory information about Hillary Clinton, to denigrate other candidates such as Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, and to support Bernie Sanders and then-candidate Donald Trump… Specialists were instructed to post content that focused ‘on politics in the USA’ and to ‘use any opportunity to criticize Hillary and the rest (except Sanders and Trump — we support them). One Russian operative, according to the indictment, was even “criticized for having a ‘low number of posts dedicated to criticizing Hillary Clinton’ and was told ‘it is imperative to intensify criticizing Hillary Clinton’ in future posts.” The indictment describes how Russian operatives impersonated Americans, traveled to the U.S. for intelligence gathering operations, and, in at least one instance, “communicated with a real U.S. person affiliated with a Texas-based grassroots organization.” The indictment doesn’t identify the individual or the organization, but notes that the “U.S. person [said] they should focus their activities on ‘purple states like Colorado, Virginia & Florida.’” All told, the defendants are accused of “conspir[ing] to obstruct the lawful functions of the United States government through fraud and deceit, including by making expenditures in connection with the 2016 U.S. presidential election without proper regulatory disclosure; failing to register as foreign agents carrying out political activities within the United States; and obtaining visas through false and fraudulent statements.” While questions remain as to which Americans the Russian operatives communicated with, the indictment makes clear that the Russian operatives tried to primarily support Trump’s campaign, while undercutting Clinton’s. Indeed, some of those identified “communicated with unwitting individuals associated with the Trump Campaign,” as well as “other political activists to seek to coordinate political activities.” Coordinating with a number of LLCs and operating out of St. Petersburg, Russia, the operation, per the indictment, “employed hundreds of individuals for its online operations, ranging from creators of fictitious personas to technical and administrative support,” including data analysis and a graphics department. Approximately 80 employees within the broader Russian apparatus focused primarily on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. Some of those employees, including defendants like Aleksandra Krylova — at one point the third-highest ranking employee in the organization — traveled to the U.S. “under false pretenses for the purpose of collecting intelligence to inform” their operations. Others “oversaw the procurement of U.S. servers… that masked the [organization’s] Russian location when conducting operations within the U.S.” The Russian operatives traveled extensively through the U.S., including to states like Nevada, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Louisiana, Texas, and New York — all “to gather intelligence.” An additional trip to Atlanta provided further intelligence. While in the U.S., the defendants, according to the indictment, “posed as U.S. persons and contacted U.S. political and social activists.” As it is, the indictment doesn’t shed any new light on specific fake Russian Facebook or Twitter accounts; rather, it details the efforts of groups already identified, including “Secured Borders,” “United Muslims of America,” “Blacktivist,” and “Heart of Texas,” confirming that the size of many of the pages “had grown to hundreds of thousands of online followers.” According to the indictment, the Russian operatives further tracked engagement using an assortment of metrics. As the indictment reads: Defendants and their co-conspirators also regularly evaluated the content posted by specialists… to ensure they appeared authentic — as if operated by U.S. persons. Specialists received feedback and directions to improve the quality of their posts. The indictment also details some of the methods with which the defendants purportedly purchased ads on Facebook as well as disbursed money, including opening PayPal accounts with fake identities. The operatives further “used, possessed, and transferred… the social security numbers and dates of birth of real U.S. persons without those persons’ knowledge or consent.” But the efforts weren’t solely dedicated to undercutting Clinton’s campaign, or to sowing division across the U.S. As the indictment points, the Russian operatives “began to encourage U.S. minority groups not to vote in the 2016 U.S. presidential election” — or even to support third party candidates like Jill Stein. As one post read, “Choose peace and vote for Jill Stein. Trust me, it’s not a wasted vote.” Mueller’s office announced an additional guilty plea on Friday. The plea, connected to Mueller’s ongoing Russia probe, details how a California man named Richard Pinedo “offered a variety of services designed to circumvent the security features of large online digital payment companies,” while also selling bank account numbers online. Pinedo, according to the plea, additionally “knew that many of the persons to whom he sold bank account numbers were outside the United States.” The plea does not detail where Pinedo’s customers were located. This is a developing story and will be updated with additional information.
The American phenom has done it. Chloe Kim, 17, won gold at the women's halfpipe finals Monday with a final score of 98.25. It was the U.S.' third gold medal of the Winter Olympics so far. The event was over before it even began after Kim started things off with an impressive first-run score of 93.75 to put the rest of the competition on their heels. The run featured a flawless backside 1080. Kim, got off to another superb start on her second run before failing to land the second of a back-to-back 1080 combo. Kim had the opportunity to take a victory lap on her third run, having already wrapped up the gold medal by that point, but instead opted to improve on her final score, posting a near-perfect 98.25. China's Jiayu Liu took silver with a best score of 89.75, while fellow American Arielle Gold earned bronze with a best score of 85.75. Thirty-four-year old Kelly Clark, one of the most decorated American snowboarders, fell just shy of earning a medal, finishing with a best score of 83.50. Despite making her Olympic debut and being one of the youngest Olympians at Pyeongchang, Kim, who is the first woman to successfully land back-to-back 1080s, was a heavy favorite to take gold in the women's halfpipe.
The 17-year-old Long Beach native dominated the qualifying round Sunday, posting the two highest-scoring runs in the event - a 91.50 on her first run and a 95.50 on her second. Prior to the Winter Games, Kim won gold in both women's halfpipe and women's slopestyle at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics. Kim is also a four-time X Games gold medalist, becoming the first person under the age of 16 to win three gold medals in 2016.
While winning your first Olympic gold medal is a special feeling in of itself, the achievement is most likely even more memorable for Kim since she's the daughter of South Korean immigrants and she still has family living there. Kim became even more of a fan-favorite after the teenager tweeted about eating churros and craving ice cream during her qualifying round Sunday. She continued her food-loving tweets Monday, posting about her love of breakfast sandwiches before her third run of the event. “Wish I finished my breakfast sandwich but my stubborn self decided not to and now I'm getting hungry,” Kim wrote.
