| President Donald Trump told reporters Friday there is a “good chance” that he will declare a national emergency in order to build his $5.7 billion wall along the southern border. “We’re getting ready to give out some really big contracts with money that we have on-hand and money that comes in. But we will be looking at a national emergency, because I don’t think anything’s going to happen,” Trump said at the White House. “I think the Democrats don’t want border security and then I hear them talking about the fact that walls are immoral and walls don’t work. They know they work.” He also hinted to reporters that he will announce a development related to the border wall at his upcoming State of the Union address. “I don’t want to say, you’ll hear the State of the Union and then you’ll see what happens right after the State of the Union,” Trump said. Trump also addressed the political crisis involving Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido, saying that no options were off the table for potential American intervention. “I don’t want to say that, but it’s always an option. Everything’s an option, I take no options off the table,” he said. View this cheat in a browser to see this embedded tweet. |
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| The Trump administration has announced that it’s formally withdrawing from a key agreement with Russia that has kept the development of nuclear missiles in check since the days of the Cold War. The pact, known as the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces, has banned ground-launched cruise missiles with a range between 500 kilometers and 5,000 kilometers since it was signed in 1987. The U.S. has accused Russia of violating the treaty with the development of a new missile—a charge that the Kremlin denies. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in early December that Washington would give Moscow 60 days to destroy the missile—that deadline expires Saturday. Trump announced the withdrawal in a statement Friday morning, saying: “We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other.” Leaving the pact will allow the Trump administration to counter the fear that China, which is not restricted by the 1987 treaty, has gained a significant military advantage, but also leaves European allies at risk. Last-ditch talks this week to save the treaty failed. |
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| On Thursday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) reportedly called the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation to apologize for taking a DNA test to prove that she was part Cherokee. According to The New York Times, a spokeswoman for the tribe called the call “brief and private.” “I understand that she apologized for causing confusion on tribal sovereignty and tribal citizenship and the harm that has resulted,” spokeswoman Julie Hubbard told the newspaper. “The chief and secretary of state appreciate that she has reaffirmed that she is not a Cherokee Nation citizen or a citizen of any tribal nation.” One day before, Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr. reportedly published a column in the Tulsa World that claimed that while Warren could be a “friend,” she was not a “Cherokee citizen.” President Donald Trump has long publicly teased Warren for claiming she has Native American heritage, calling her “Pocahontas.” In reaction, Warren took the DNA test—prompting backlash from the Cherokee Nation. |
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| Jussie Smollett is speaking out after he was allegedly attacked in Chicago earlier this week. “Let me start by saying that I’m OK,” the Empire star and LGBTQ+ activist began in his statement to Essence. “My body is strong but my soul is stronger. More importantly I want to say thank you. The outpouring of love and support from my village has meant more than I will ever be able to truly put into words.” “I am working with authorities and have been 100% factual and consistent on every level,” he continued. “Despite my frustrations and deep concern with certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have been spread, I still believe that justice will be served.” “I am not and should not be looked upon as an isolated incident,” Smollett added. “Most importantly, during times of trauma, grief and pain, there is still a responsibility to lead with love... And that can’t be kicked out of me.” Two men allegedly attacked Smollett on the streets of Chicago. He told police they yelled “racial and homophobic slurs” and tied a rope around his neck. |
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| The perfect Valentine’s Day gift can be challenging to choose, so go with something virtually certain to please: Wine. Firstleaf’s Wine Subscription Club allows you to show your Valentine you appreciate them and create an experience that you can enjoy together. You’ll take a quick quiz when you sign up to help Firstleaf understand your loved one’s taste profile. You can rate each bottle you receive so that the club’s wine experts can continue learning about your wine preferences, refining the grape and region selection with each shipment. Firstleaf has a truly global collection of wine varietals, having collectively earned more than 650 awards — including more than 100 wines scoring 90 and above. The best part about Firstleaf is their flexibility: If you don’t like what’s coming, you can easily switch the selection. If you love a particular bottle, you can simply re-order it in Firstleaf’s wine store. Want to slow down or speed up the pace of shipments? No problem. Firstleaf Wine Club is a Valentine’s Day gift that keeps on giving—and they’re offering Daily Beast customers an exclusive discount. Get six bottles for $39.95 (70% off!) plus free shipping for a year when you order now. Scouted is internet shopping with a pulse. Follow us on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter for even more recommendations and exclusive content. Please note that if you buy something featured in one of our posts, The Daily Beast may collect a share of sales. |
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| Conservative pundit Ann Coulter called President Trump “lazy and incompetent,” and said he could potentially face a Republican primary challenger in 2020 if he doesn’t build a wall along the southern border. “We put this lunatic in the White House for one reason,” Coulter told Yahoo News. “He doesn’t need to declare an emergency.” Coulter went on to claim how the president could use his powers to make the Department of Defense and Homeland Security build the wall without congressional approval. “I think [Trump is] finally going to pull that pocket Constitution out of his lapel pocket and [say], ‘Oh my gosh, I’m the president. This is great.’” When asked who she could see challenging Trump in 2020, Coulter said a “terrific” candidate would be Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL)—who recently claimed Democrats would have “American blood” on their hands if they blocked the wall from being built. Coulter wouldn’t say if she has recently spoken to the president, but did tell Yahoo News that Trump was still “reading” her. “I can tell. … Well, somebody’s reading me. They’re all reading me over there,” she said. |
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| Foxconn announced in a statement Friday that it will move forward with the construction of its $10 billion Wisconsin facility after talks with White House, the company said in a statement Friday. “After productive discussions between the White House and the company, and after a personal conversation between President Donald J. Trump and Chairman Terry Gou, Foxconn is moving forward with our planned construction of a Gen 6 fab facility,” the statement read. “This campus will serve both as an advanced manufacturing facility as well as a hub of high technology innovation for the region.” Earlier this week, Foxconn CEO Terry Gou told Reuters the company would offer mostly researcher and engineering jobs in Wisconsin, as opposed to the blue-collar manufacturing jobs that were originally promised. President Trump had touted the plant as an example of bringing jobs back to blue-collar workers in poorer regions. It’s unclear what kinds of jobs the $10 billion facility will now provide. “Our decision is also based on a recent comprehensive and systematic evaluation to help determine the best fit for our Wisconsin project among TFT technologies,” the company wrote. “We look forward to continuing to expand our investment in American talent in Wisconsin and the US.” The plant will be the largest foreign greenfield investment in U.S. history. |
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| Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn announced Friday that she will retire from skiing in the coming month due to severe injuries in her knees. “After many sleepless nights, I have finally accepted that I cannot continue ski racing. I will compete at the World Championships in Downhill and Super-G next week in Åre, Sweden and they will be the final races of my career,” Vonn wrote in a lengthy Facebook post. “Over the past few years I have had more injuries and surgeries than I care to admit,” she added, noting that she’d suffered through delaminated cartilage, an LCL tear, and three fractures in recent years. “Despite extensive therapy, training and a knee brace, I am not able make the turns necessary to compete the way I know I can,” Vonn continued. “My body is broken beyond repair and it isn't letting me have the final season I dreamed of. My body is screaming at me to STOP and it’s time for me to listen.” But Vonn ended her post on a positive note. “I can look back at 82 World Cup wins, 20 World Cup titles, 3 Olympic medals, 7 World Championship medals and say that I have accomplished something that no other woman in HISTORY has ever done, and that is something that I will be proud of FOREVER! So please let my story be of comebacks, victories and even injuries, but do not tell my story as one of failures or unreached goals,” she said, adding that she “Can’t wait to see some of you in the finish in Are where I will give it my all one last time.” View this cheat in a browser to see this embedded media. |
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| Vice Media plans to lay off 10 percent of its staff, or approximately 250 people, according to a Friday report from The Hollywood Reporter. A company spokesperson told the outlet that Vice plans to reorganize around the more profitable segments of the company, including film production, television production, and branded content. “Having finalized the 2019 budget, our focus shifts to executing our goals and hitting our marks,” CEO Nancy Dubuc wrote in a Friday staff memo obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. “We will make Vice the best manifestation of itself and cement its place long into the future.” Many of the employees who will be laid off are expected to learn their fate today, although more cuts are expected in the coming weeks. All U.S.-based employees will get 10 weeks of severance and medical benefits, and will receive any additional unused paid time off. The cuts come just a week after massive layoffs shook the industry and left many talented journalists out of work, including a round of layoffs at BuzzFeed that cut 15 percent of the organization’s workforce. The CEO of McClatchy Company reportedly also emailed employees Friday to inform them about 10 percent of employees will be offered voluntary buyouts. “It is important to us that [employees] are empowered to make the next steps on their career path,” Craig Forman wrote, according to the Miami New Times–adding that the buyouts would be steering the company toward a “functionally based organizational structure in targeted strategic areas.” |
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| At least 60 people were killed when Boko Haram attacked a town in northern Nigeria on January 28, Amnesty International reports Friday. Boko Haram militants arrived at the small border town of Rann at around 9 a.m. that morning, Amnesty International reports, slaughtering civilians and setting houses ablaze. “We have now confirmed that this week’s attack on Rann was the deadliest yet by Boko Haram, killing at least 60 people,” said Osai Ojigho, director of Amnesty International Nigeria. “Using satellite imagery we have also been able to confirm the mass burning of structures as Boko Haram unleashed a massive assault on Rann, most of which is now destroyed.” In the statement from Amnesty International, Ojigho also lambasted the Nigerian police. “Disturbingly, witnesses told us that Nigerian soldiers abandoned their posts the day before the attack,” Ojigho said, “demonstrating the authorities’ utter failure to protect civilians.” |
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