Melissa McEwan

Democratic Senator rebuffs Trump: “Getting on with our lives means a life based on freedom”

Donald Trump has refused to acknowledge Russian interference in the election, and his latest response when asked about it was to say, “I think we ought to get on with our lives.” During an interview with CNN’s Kate Bolduan, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) had stern words in response to Trump’s alarming indifference: “Getting on with […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 30, 2016

Trump’s national security advisor met leader of Austrian white supremacist party at Trump Tower

Heinz-Christian Strache, the leader of Austria’s right-wing Freedom Party, announced on Facebook that he has signed an agreement of cooperation with Russia’s ruling party. The agreement itself is concerning, as it is yet another indication that Putin is meddling in Western countries’ affairs in an attempt to undermine their democracies. Of particular concern to Americans, […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 20, 2016

Trump to retain his private “security and intelligence” detail, despite warnings

In a new, detailed article at Politico, Kenneth P. Vogel reports that Donald Trump will be keeping some members of his “private security and intelligence team.” “The arrangement represents a major break from tradition,” writes Vogel, which is a polite way of saying this is not normal. All modern presidents and presidents-elect have entrusted their […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 19, 2016

Putin and Trump publicly endorse expanding their nations’ nuclear capabilities

Russia’s recent ramp-up of its nuclear arsenal, including flagrant violations of longstanding nuclear arms treaties, has been chillingly detailed by my colleague Ginger McKnight-Chavers. Much of this escalation has gone without wide notice, and without public commentary from Russian President Vladimir Putin. But now, Putin has given an address at an annual meeting of the […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 22, 2016

Obama sharply criticizes media’s “obsession” with every email leaked by Russian hacking

President Obama just gave his final press conference of the year, the entirety of which can be viewed here. In his typically unflappable and measured demeanor, he started by recounting many of the successes of his eight years in office, then took questions, many of which focused on Russian interference in the election. Obama reiterated […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 16, 2016

Rep. Cummings: The ‘struggle for the soul of our democracy’ has ‘no time for partisanship’

During an interview on CNN’s New Day with Chris Cuomo, Rep. Elijah Cummings addressed the seriousness of Russian interference in our democratic institutions and reminded his Republican colleagues that national security breaches are not a partisan issue. Watch: “This is a struggle for the soul of our democracy” — @RepCummings wants 9/11-type commission to look […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 16, 2016

Gingrich advocates changing ethics laws for Trump because he is rich

Media Matters reports: Fox News contributor Newt Gingrich is advocating for Congress to “change the ethics laws” for President-elect Donald Trump, rather than forcing Trump to “disentangle himself from his multibillion-dollar business to avoid conflicts of interest with his incoming administration.” …Gingrich, a staunch Trump supporter, is calling for “a whole new approach” for Congress […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 20, 2016

Trump’s refusal to acknowledge Russian interference is “deeply damaging to the country” and raises “the specter of treason”

During an interview on ABC’s This Week, Rep. Adam Schiff explained why the Obama administration is being circumspect in its public response to Russian interference in the U.S. election, and then made clear the steep cost of Donald Trump’s reckless refusal to condemn the interference: .@RepAdamSchiff: For Trump “to continue to give the Russians deniability […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 18, 2016

Pelosi calls for independent investigation of Putin’s interference in U.S. election

Concerned, unlike most of her Republican colleagues, about Russian interference in the U.S. election, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is again calling for a bipartisan, independent review. Elections determine the future our children will inherit. Given the alarming magnitude, seriousness and scope of Russia’s efforts to undermine U.S. elections, we must have an independent, bipartisan […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 15, 2016

We are under attack. Republican leaders, where is your patriotism?

We are in the midst of a national crisis: The U.S. intelligence community has confirmed that Russia interfered in the election, in order to help Donald Trump get elected. They now have evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin was orchestrating the interference. This was not, as Trump has suggested, just some hacker sitting on his […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 15, 2016

Putin was directing election interference; Republicans knew and did nothing

NBC News reports that two senior U.S. intelligence officials have disclosed that the intelligence community believes, with “a high level of confidence,” that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally directed the campaign to disrupt and influence the election. Two senior officials with direct access to the information say new intelligence shows that Putin personally directed how […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 15, 2016

Don’t believe the haters who say Democrats are “doing nothing”

President-elect Donald Trump has not yet been inaugurated and is already terrifying progressives (and not a few conservatives) with his diplomatic recklessness, unwillingness to resolve his vast conflicts of interest, chaotic transition, and alarming Cabinet-building. His belligerent, continually divisive posture is suggestive of an incoming president with a commanding mandate, but he was helped to […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 14, 2016

Obama administration issues rule barring states from defunding Planned Parenthood

Two dozen states with Republican state majorities and/or Republican governors have tried to “defund” Planned Parenthood by attempting to block public funds to clinics. It is a cynical ploy to try to further hollow out the right to abortion guaranteed by Roe v. Wade, and the Obama administration is making a last-minute bid to try […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 14, 2016

Harry Reid will not go quietly on “scandal that has been uncovered”

Speaking to BuzzFeed, the retiring Senate Minority leader Harry Reid — who has been out front in challenging the legitimacy of Donald Trump’s impending presidency — argued that “of course” electors should receive an intelligence briefing on Russian interference in the election. “If they had the same briefings I had they would be concerned about […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 13, 2016

Trump’s “conflicts of interest” are subversions of the nation’s interests—and Democrats are losing patience

In the Washington Post, Drew Harwell details the problems with Donald Trump’s latest promise “that his businesses will do ‘no new deals’ during his time in the White House,” starting with the fact that it is utterly nonsensical. Trump’s complex international business holdings will naturally strike “new deals” moving forward. “Every day there are going […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 13, 2016

Rick Perry tapped to lead Energy Dept, which he once advocated eliminating

During a Republican primary debate in 2011, Rick Perry tried to name three federal departments he would eliminate if elected president: “It’s three agencies of government when I get there that are gone: Commerce, education, and the, uh, what’s the third one there? Let’s see,” he said, to laughter. “Commerce, education, and the, um, um, […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 13, 2016

Rep. Meeks on Trump’s attitude toward intelligence community: “Irresponsible, dangerous, frankly reprehensible”

Congressman Gregory W. Meeks brings the expertise and the fire in a strong statement on investigating Russian interference in the U.S. election: As our intelligence agencies continue to inform us of Russian interference in our recent elections, we must better understand not only what exactly happened, but we must also discern the extent of the […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 12, 2016

Nancy Pelosi singles out Paul Ryan in call for bipartisan investigation into Russian election interference

House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has issued a statement echoing Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) call for a bipartisan Congressional investigation into Russian interference in the election, urgently noting: “There must be no equivocation or ignoring the seriousness of the intelligence community’s conclusion about Russia’s actions.” Her statement is as blunt as it […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 12, 2016

Clinton campaign supports electors’ request for intelligence briefing on Russian interference

Ten bipartisan electors have published an open letter, addressed to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, requesting an intelligence briefing on Russian interference in the U.S. election. Specifically, the electors seek further information on “whether there are ongoing investigations into ties between Donald Trump, his campaign or associates, and Russian government interference in the election, […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 12, 2016

Kellyanne Conway says Trump is “going to put his own people” in the intelligence community

Following news of a secret CIA assessment concluding that Russia intervened to help Donald Trump win the election, Democrats have continued to push hard for answers and accountability. Members of the GOP have been considerably more reticent to speak and step up, with very few exceptions, and their new President-elect is deflecting and actively denouncing […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 11, 2016

Schumer demands bipartisan Senate investigation into Russian election interference

Congressional Democrats have been mounting an increasingly intense call for inquiries into Russian interference in the 2016 election. President Obama has ordered an intelligence report on Russian interference, to be delivered before January 20. Now, following disclosure of the CIA’s assessment confirming such interference, incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is demanding “a full, bipartisan […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 10, 2016

BREAKING: CIA secret assessment concludes Russia intervened to help Trump win

The Washington Post reports: The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency, rather than just to undermine confidence in the U.S. electoral system, according to officials briefed on the matter. Intelligence agencies have identified individuals with connections to the Russian government […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 09, 2016

Defiant union leader is tired of Trump’s lies; will not be silenced

Chuck Jones, President of United Steelworkers 1999 in Indiana, has become the target of Donald Trump’s vengeful personal attacks, all because Jones refused to endorse the lies Trump has been telling about the much-touted Carrier deal. As a result of Trump’s reckless tweeting, prioritizing his own brittle ego over Jones’ safety, Jones began receiving threatening […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 09, 2016

This is the thing you MUST understand about Mike Pence

That sound you hear is me still ringing the alarm about Vice-President-elect Mike Pence and his outsized influence in the incoming Trump administration. As I have previously observed, Pence is shaping up to be one of the most powerful seconds-in-command in U.S. history. Today, Gallup notes that his influence is bolstered by Donald Trump’s lack […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 08, 2016

This incredible Trump story deserves more than 13 seconds on the news

Watch: Linda McMahon is Mr. Trump’s choice to lead the Small Business Administration. McMahon and her husband Vince founded World Wrestling Entertainment and they’ve donated $5 million to the Trump Foundation. That is it. That is the entire story. Leading media outlets covered Hillary Clinton’s emails for 451 consecutive days (as of September 15). CBS […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 08, 2016

Paul Ryan is unintentionally honest about why he wants to repeal Obamacare

As soon as Donald Trump pulled off his victory on the evening of November 8th, Republican Congressional leaders vowed an immediate repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) promised that repealing the ACA “will be the first item up in the New Year.” Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) vowed that a repeal is […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 07, 2016

Trump is yet another man selected for Time’s Person of the Year

Time has selected Donald Trump as its Person of the Year — an annual year-end honorific that Time is quick to point out does not necessarily signal an endorsement, but is recognition of unusual influence. Time magazine names U.S. President-elect Trump Person of the Year: https://t.co/LPDHaR71kb pic.twitter.com/Lh4OhGQCW4 — Reuters (@Reuters) December 7, 2016 Until 1999, […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 07, 2016

Hillary Clinton’s message to girls is most retweeted political tweet of the year

During her concession speech, Hillary Clinton, who has spent her career advocating for women and girls, said: “To all the little girls who are watching this: Never doubt that you are valuable, and powerful, and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.” That part of her […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 06, 2016

Pence jokes about who is really in charge; evades about member of transition team

Mike Pence is emerging as the most powerful vice-president ever. It was Pence who orchestrated the Carrier deal for which Trump is taking credit. It is Pence who is attending the intelligence briefings. It is Pence whose agenda is written all over the cabinet picks so far. And it is Pence who is leading Donald […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 06, 2016

Joe Biden presides over Senate as portion of cancer initiative is named after his son

In his final State of the Union address, President Obama tasked Vice-President Joe Biden with leading “a new national effort to end cancer as we know it.” Known as the Cancer Moonshot, the audacious goal is “to make a decade’s worth of advances in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, in five years.” Tonight, Biden presided […]

By Melissa McEwan - December 05, 2016