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Trump to CNN reporter who asked if acting attorney general will rein in Mueller: 'What a stupid question'

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Trump

  • President Donald Trump both defended and distanced himself from controversial acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker during a Friday press conference.
  • Some legal scholars have argued that Whitaker — who has frequently criticized the validity of the Mueller probe — being appointed as acting attorney general is unconstitutional because he was not confirmed by the Senate.
  • "What a stupid question that is," Trump replied to CNN reporter Abby Phillip's question of whether the president hoped Whitaker would "reign in" the Mueller probe. "You ask a lot of stupid questions."

President Donald Trump both defended and distanced himself from acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker during a Friday press conference, at one point lashing out at a CNN reporter who asked if Trump hoped Whitaker would limit the special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

"I don’t know Whitaker," Trump said, adding that he heard Whitaker was "highly thought of" by US ambassador to China and former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad.

However, several reporters were quick to point out that Trump had met Whitaker multiple times in the Oval Office while Whitaker was former Attorney General Jeff Sessions' chief of staff. When Sessions resigned on Wednesday, Trump installed Whitaker as acting attorney general.

The Washington Post reported Thursday that not only does Whitaker not plan to recuse himself from overseeing the Mueller probe, but he would block Mueller from subpoenaing Trump if the president does not agree to a sit-down interview.

Read more:Trump's new acting attorney general, who has publicly railed against Mueller, reportedly will not recuse himself from the Russia probe

"What a stupid question that is," Trump responded to CNN reporter Abby Phillip when asked if he hoped Whitaker would "reign in" the Mueller probe. "You ask a lot of stupid questions."

A number of legal scholars have questioned Whitaker's validity as acting attorney general, as well as his fitness to oversee the Mueller investigation given Whitaker's long track record of publicly undermining the Mueller probe and claiming there was "no collusion" between the Trump campaign and Russia before the investigation had concluded.

The solicitor general in former President Barack Obama's administration, Neal Katyal, and conservative lawyer George Conway (husband to White House counselor Kellyanne Conway) argued in a New York Times op-ed that Whitaker's appointment to acting attorney general was unconstitutional because he was not confirmed by the Senate. 

Trump responded to those criticisms by incorrectly claiming that the special counsel Mueller had never been confirmed. 

"Mueller was not Senate confirmed," Trump claimed. "Whitaker was Senate confirmed ... when he was the US. attorney from Iowa. Mueller ... should've been Senate confirmed. But because of all the conflicts, they didn't want to bring him before the Senate."

Not only was Mueller confirmed by the Senate to the position of FBI Director twice during his career, but Mueller's position of special counsel does not require Senate confirmation.

While Whitaker was confirmed by the Senate to the position of US Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, his position as Sessions' chief of staff did not require Senate confirmation. 

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NOW WATCH: Trump once won a lawsuit against the NFL — but the result was an embarrassment


Trump's top trade adviser just warned Goldman Sachs and Wall Street not to leave their 'stench' on the US-China trade war talks

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trump xi jinping

  • Peter Navarro, President Donald Trump's anti-China trade adviser, attacked Wall Street and Goldman Sachs on Friday.
  • Navarro accused Wall Street of attempting to influence US-China trade negotiations and said the bankers are "unregistered foreign agents" working on behalf of the Chinese government.
  • Chinese officials have reportedly reached out to some Wall Street executives in an attempt to understand Trump's trade position.
  • Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet at the G20 summit in Argentina at the end of November.

Peter Navarro, President Donald Trump's avowed anti-China trade adviser, leveled fierce attacks against Wall Street — specifically Goldman Sachs — for what he alleged was meddling in talks to resolve the US-China trade war.

Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on Friday, Navarro accused Wall Street of acting on behalf of the Chinese government and said "globalists" were trying to influence trade negotiations.

"Consider the shuttle diplomacy that is now going on by a self-appointed group of Wall Street bankers and hedge fund managers between the US and China," Navarro said. "As part of a Chinese government influence operation, globalist billionaires are putting the full court press on the White House in advance of the G20 in Argentina. The mission of these unregistered foreign agents — that's what they are, unregistered agents — is to pressure this president into some kind of a deal."

Chinese officials have reportedly attempted to talk to some Wall Street titans about Trump's trade attacks against the country — specifically Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman and JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon. While those attempts have yielded no results so far, Navarro views the Chinese discussions with Wall Street as shuttle diplomacy, which is conducted through a go-between.

"Wall Street, get out of those negotiations. Go to Dayton, Ohio — bring your Goldman Sachs money to Dayton, Ohio and invest in America," Navarro said. "The president of the United States does not need shuttle diplomacy."

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet at the G20 summit at the end of November. Trump has been raising expectations of a possible deal, though experts are skeptical.

Navarro warned that if Wall Street continues to inject itself into the US-China talks, any deal between the two countries would be tainted.

"If and when there is a deal, it will be on President Donald Trump's terms — not Wall Street's. If Wall Street is involved and continues to insinuate itself into these negotiation there will be a stench around any deal that is consummated," he said.

Read more: Trump's suddenly talking about a big new trade deal with China, but analysts say it's just 'pre-election hype designed to make the markets happy'»

The talks come amid a growing trade war between the two countries. Trump has already slapped tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods coming into the US and is threatening tariffs on all remaining imports. China responded with tariffs of their own on $110 billion worth of US goods.

Navarro praised Trump's handling of the trade fight.

"Donald Trump has done an amazing job of addressing that issue, and he didn't need the help of Wall Street. He didn't need the help of Goldman Sachs, and he doesn't need it now," Navarro said. "When these unpaid foreign agents engage in this kind of diplomacy, so-called diplomacy, all they do is weaken this president and his negotiating position."

A spokesperson for Goldman Sachs did not immediately return a request for comment.

SEE ALSO: The GOP's Senate triumph means Trump can continue the work on 'the single most important legacy' of his presidency

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NOW WATCH: Megyn Kelly in 2017: 'I regret a lot' of the controversial stuff I've said on live television

4 ways spending time apart from my partner made our relationship strong

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women couple

  • Marriage takes time, effort, and dedication, and around half of marriages end in divorce.
  • Here, author Jennifer Still shares four ways that spending time apart from her partner has helped keep her marriage strong.

 

With divorce rates hovering around 40 to 50%, it feels a bit obvious to say that marriage is hard. Maintaining a long-term relationship takes time, effort, and dedication, and even then many couples still can't make it work.

When I married my partner four years ago after being together for the six years, I knew we had a huge challenge ahead of us. Thankfully, it's one we've managed to master thus far, and a large part of our success lies in one particular thing we make time for: spending time apart.

It's worth mentioning that my partner and I were long-distance for much of our relationship, which meant that time apart wasn't just a preference, it was an unfortunate circumstance that was often painful and stressful. However, that mandatory time not being in one another's physical presence made taking time to do our own things once we were actually living together in the same place a pretty natural move.

Here's why it works for us.

We can keep our own identities outside of the relationship

There's nothing worse than couples who slowly meld into one person because they're together 24/7 and have no separate hobbies, passions, or friends. Making sure to spend time apart allows us to do our own things, especially stuff the other person wouldn't be into. For my partner, that includes watching reality TV, listening to musical artists that I'm not into, and visiting with her friends.

For me, it's a lot of hanging out in local coffee shops, reading novels, and window shopping. By indulging our own interests, we remain two unique people with our own thoughts, opinions, and feelings rather than a homogeneous pair with a singular identity.

Read more: My partner and I come from different cultures — here are the main barriers we face

We have more to talk about when we're together

Whether it's sharing something weird we saw on TV, talking about a book we're reading, or relaying something weird that happened while we were out to lunch with one of our friends, hanging out without each other gives us so much more to talk about when we're actually together.

After all, if you're attached at the hip 24/7, you already know what's happening and you quickly run out of conversational topics. Thankfully, this hasn't happened for us.

We get the opportunity to miss each other

My job as a writer and editor — not to mention my status as an immigrant to the UK — sometimes requires me to travel without my partner back to the US or even to other cities around England.

While it's great when we can travel together (and we do a lot of that too), spending a couple of days apart makes us realize how much we love and care about one another and still enjoy being together. Those little reminders mean the world in keeping our relationship fresh and healthy, and that can only be a good thing.

Read more: My wife and I were in a long-distance relationship for 3 years before we got married — here's how we made it work

The time we spend together is of higher quality

While we definitely do more relaxed things like eating pizza on the couch while bingeing Netflix, having the opportunity to spend time apart means that when we do have quality time together, we're able to make the most of it.

When we've had busy weeks that have kept us from being together a lot, we're way more likely to make an effort to arrange something like a fancy dinner out or a trip to a local museum when our schedules are a little less hectic. Sure, we don't have to be doing anything special to enjoy one another's company, but we find that doing these activities makes our bond even stronger.

Obviously there's a balance that needs to be struck here. While spending time away from your partner is something I believe is vital to every relationship, I'd be worried if I found myself wanting to be doing my own thing more than I wanted to be with her. Thankfully, that's not the case, and our love of independence has served to bring us closer rather than pulling us apart.

While there are many things that contribute to a successful relationship — love, respect, understanding, and communication, to name a few — I truly believe that maintaining our unique identities and ensuring that we're fulfilled as people as well as part of a couple helps keep our relationship strong and thriving.

SEE ALSO: My partner and I come from different cultures — here are the main barriers we face

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NOW WATCH: This company spent 10 years developing a product that allows humans to scale walls like a gecko

29 useful Amazon Prime benefits to know that go beyond free 2-day shipping

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prime video

Ask anyone around you and they'll most likely say they have an Amazon Prime membership. At less than $10 a month, it offers many convenient benefits, making it a great investment for its price. 

A regular Prime membership is $119 a year. Students not only get 50% off Prime memberships ($6.49/month), but also enjoy exclusive discounts. They can get a free six-month Prime trial here. Meanwhile, Prime is also discounted ($5.99/month) for qualifying customers with an EBT or Medicaid card

100 million subscribers worldwide evidently think it's worth it, but if you're still on the fence about buying a membership, we've rounded up its many benefits below.

You might even already have Prime but aren't using it to its full advantage, in which case this list will be a nice refresher for all the benefits you should know about. 

You can experience all the benefits with a free 30-day trial of Prime to see if it's worth it for you. 

Here are the 29 Amazon Prime benefits you should know about.

Free two-day shipping on over 100 million items

The best-known perk, Amazon Prime's fast delivery service is convenient and applies to just about anything you'll need from the site. Just look for the Prime logo as you shop. 



Free same-day and one-day shipping on over a million items in over 8,000 cities

Check your zip code here to see if same-day and one-day options are available near you

Same-day shipping: Order over $35 of eligible items before noon and get them by 9 p.m. same day. Orders placed in the afternoon arrive the next day. 

One-day shipping: Order over $35 of eligible items by the afternoon and get your items by 9 p.m. the next day. 

 



Free two-hour delivery on household essentials with Prime Now

Check your zip code here to see if Prime Now is available near you 

Tens of thousands of everyday household items, grocery essentials, and Amazon products can be delivered to you in two hours or less, in select US cities. Delivery windows generally span from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., though some extend to midnight depending on the city. 



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Trump goes on raging tweetstorm as Florida and Georgia vote counts descend into chaos

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President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Friday morning.

  • President Donald Trump tweeted his rage over the razor-thin electoral margins — and potential recounts and runoffs — in Georgia and Florida. 
  • Trump claimed Republicans Brian Kemp and Rick Scott had won their respective gubernatorial and senatorial bids, and promoted a conspiracy that Democrats are fabricating votes in Florida. 

President Donald Trump tweeted his rage about razor-thin electoral margins in Georgia and Florida, asserting unsubstantiated claims about voter fraud in Florida. 

Trump claimed on Friday that Georgia's secretary of state, Republican Brian Kemp, had defeated Democrat Stacey Abrams in the state's gubernatorial race, despite the fact that the race remains too close to call.

"It's time to move on!" the president wrote.

With ballots still being counted, Abrams is closing Kemp's narrow lead, and the contest may be heading toward a runoff.

Read More: Florida is in chaos as thousands of ballots remain uncounted, and the outcome of the state's key elections could remain unclear for weeks

Trump also continued pushing the GOP conspiracy that local Florida elections officials — specifically in Democratic-leaning Broward County — are committing electoral fraud by miscounting or making up votes in order to swing the election for Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson.

Trump claimed during a news conference on Friday morning that Florida Gov. Rick Scott, the Republican candidate for Senate, had "easily won" the election. As of Friday morning, Scott had a 15,000-vote lead over Nelson, which is well within the margin for an automatic recount. 

"You mean they are just now finding votes in Florida and Georgia – but the Election was on Tuesday? Let's blame the Russians and demand an immediate apology from President Putin!" Trump tweeted.

Scott claimed on Thursday that "unethical liberals" and "left-wing activists" will "find as many votes as it takes to try to win this election." Other prominent Republicans, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, are also accusing Democrats of committing fraud to steal the election. (The president thanked Rubio for his efforts in another Friday afternoon tweet). 

Trump also tweeted Friday that Marc Elias — Nelson's elections lawyer, who also served as general counsel for Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 election — is masterminding the electoral fraud. The president pointed to Elias' involvement in hiring the research firm Fusion GPS to investigate him during the election — an effort that resulted in the notorious dossier on Trump's connections to Russia — in an apparent attempt to cast doubt on the Florida recount effort. 

"As soon as Democrats sent their best Election stealing lawyer, Marc Elias, to Broward County they miraculously started finding Democrat votes," Trump tweeted. "Don't worry, Florida - I am sending much better lawyers to expose the FRAUD!"

During his Fox News program Thursday night, Sean Hannity also tied the recount effort to Fusion GPS and the Steele dossier. 

"This is the single biggest abuse of power in an election I've seen," Hannity said.

Trump tweeted yet again about the Florida Senate race on Friday, suggesting that Democrats are following a playbook of fraud.

"How come they never find Republican votes?" the president wrote, adding in still more tweets that Broward County officials "probably" attempted to "falsify" votes in the 2016 election as well. "This is an embarrassment to our Country and to Democracy!"

SEE ALSO: Gun control activist Lucy McBath, whose son was killed in a 2012 shooting, wins congressional seat once held by Newt Gingrich

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NOW WATCH: Megyn Kelly in 2017: 'I regret a lot' of the controversial stuff I've said on live television

'Seriously? This guy?': Matthew Whitaker's appointment as acting attorney general has FBI and DOJ officials in a 'daze'

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Matt Whitaker

  • Current and former FBI and DOJ officials expressed shock and frustration at President Donald Trump's appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general.
  • "Seriously? This guy?" one current FBI agent said to INSIDER. "No words."
  • A former DOJ official expressed a similar sentiment, saying department employees have been "in a daze" since Whitaker's appointment "and have been for a while," adding that local assistant US attorneys are also "pretty embarrassed."
  • Whitaker is seen as a staunch Trump loyalist and has publicly mused about gutting the Russia investigation. He is now overseeing the special counsel Robert Mueller.
  • DOJ veterans and constitutional law experts argue that Mueller could challenge Whitaker's appointment on constitutional grounds if he overruled a decision by the special counsel.

President Donald Trump's decision to oust Attorney General Jeff Sessions this week and replace him with acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker sent shockwaves through Washington.

It also turned heads at the FBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ), which Whitaker will oversee until Trump nominates and the Senate confirms a permanent replacement.

One current FBI agent was blunt when asked about Whitaker's appointment.

"Seriously? This guy?" the agent, who requested anonymity to speak candidly, told INSIDER. "No words."

While he was Sessions' chief of staff, Whitaker reportedly met with Trump in the Oval Office over a dozen times. And according to The Washington Post, whenever Trump complained about the ongoing Russia investigation Whitaker "often smiled knowingly and nodded in assent."

The Russia investigation, spearheaded by the special counsel Robert Mueller, has been a thorn in Trump's side since shortly after he took office. In addition to investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 election, Mueller is also looking into whether members of the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow to tilt the race in his favor, as well as whether Trump sought to obstruct justice after learning of the investigation's existence last March.

The special counsel is said to be nearing the end stages of the Russia probe — he has reportedly begun writing his final report— and Whitaker's appointment raises new questions about the fate of the investigation.

"This decision is unsurprising," another current FBI agent told INSIDER. "POTUS has always wanted to replace Jeff Sessions with someone loyal to him. He values personal loyalty above all else, including rule of law. Another sad day for the country."

Donald Trump

People at the DOJ are 'in a daze' and 'pretty embarrassed'

Once described as the West Wing's "eyes and ears" in the DOJ, Whitaker made the rounds on right-wing media over the last two years claiming without evidence, that there was "no collusion" between the Trump campaign and Russia.

He also said in a CNN op-ed last year that Mueller had overstepped his mandate by digging into the Trump Organization's finances.

And late Thursday, audio footage resurfaced of Whitaker claiming the "left is trying to sow this theory that essentially Russians interfered with the US election, which has been proven false. They did not have any impact in the election."

The US intelligence community concluded last year that Russia mounted an elaborate campaign to meddle in the 2016 election to elevate Trump to the presidency. The assessment did not reach a conclusion about whether Russia's meddling had an impact on the results.

In another recording reported on by Mother Jones, Whitaker said the president cannot obstruct justice and can kill any investigation he wants.

Read more:Robert Mueller has reportedly begun drafting his final report in the Russia probe

"Main Justice people are in a daze" since Whitaker's appointment "and have been for a while," one former DOJ official — who requested anonymity to freely discuss the mood within the department — told INSIDER. "Local [assistant US attorneys] are keeping their heads down and just doing their work but are pretty embarrassed, particularly in New York and Chicago."

The Post reported that despite Whitaker's controversial remarks about Mueller and the Russia probe, the acting attorney general has no plans to recuse himself, even if DOJ ethics officials urge him to do so. Sources also told The Post that Whitaker would likely oppose a request from Mueller to subpoena the president if it came down to it.

A former senior DOJ official, who worked closely with Mueller when he was the FBI director, told INSIDER that although the special counsel is "as by-the-books as it gets, he likely won't take it lying down if he thinks the integrity of his investigation has been compromised."

Robert Mueller

Is Whitaker's appointment constitutional?

The myriad questions surrounding Whitaker's independence prompted DOJ veterans and constitutional-law experts to begin laying the groundwork to argue that Mueller could challenge Whitaker's appointment if he overruled a decision by the special counsel.

Attorneys Neal Katyal and George Conway wrote in a New York Times op-ed that because a "principal officer" of the US must be confirmed by the Senate, "President Trump's installation of Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general of the United States after forcing the resignation of [former Attorney General] Jeff Sessions is unconstitutional. It's illegal. And it means that anything Mr. Whitaker does, or tries to do, in that position is invalid."

The argument has also gained steam in some conservative-leaning circles.

"Just to be clear, you can have an acting Attorney General," tweeted conservative commentator and Trump critic Erick Erickson. "See e.g. Sally Yates. But you cannot have an acting AG who had not been through a confirmation process for an AG position. Yates was confirmed as a Deputy AG. Whitaker has not."

But there isn't unanimous consensus among experts on the issue.

Steve Vladeck, a law professor at the University of Texas, wrote in a Times op-ed that Trump's designation of Whitaker as acting attorney general is constitutional, as long as it is temporary.

Ultimately, legal scholars say, the issue may end up being decided by the Supreme Court.

SEE ALSO: Robert Mueller has reportedly begun drafting his final report in the Russia probe

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NOW WATCH: This top economist has a radical plan to change the way Americans vote

Jeff Sessions says he doesn't regret recusing himself, is confident Mueller probe conducted 'appropriately and with justification'

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WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 01: U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks during a news conference discussing new criminal law enforcement action against China for economic espionage on November 1, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

  • Recently ousted Attorney General Jeff Sessions told the Wall Street Journal he is "confident" in Robert Mueller's probe of the Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign.
  • But Sessions also said he finds the investigation to be "unhealthy" for the country as it has dragged on for nearly two years.
  • Sessions once again defended his decision to recuse himself from the special counsel investigation.

Recently resigned Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he is "confident" that the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign — headed by former FBI Director Robert Mueller — can continue to be handled "appropriately and with justification."

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal published on Thursday, Sessions expressed confidence in the Mueller probe and noted that he made the right decision to recuse himself from the investigation in March 2017.

Sessions defended the investigation, telling the WSJ that "the country is committed to this course" but added he finds it to be "unhealthy" for the nation to have the probe drag on for as long as it has.

It is not the first time Sessions has opened up about the justification for his recusal. During a meeting with The Federalist Society, the the attorney general said, "I think that's what I had to do."

And shortly after the investigation began, Sessions told the Senate Intelligence Committee that he took the correct course of action.

"I recused myself, not because of any asserted wrongdoing, or any belief that I may have been involved in any wrongdoing in the campaign," Sessions said, "but because a Department of Justice regulation ... I felt, required it."

But Sessions' decision was not without difficulties. President Donald Trump had reportedly pressured Sessions to rethink the recusal on multiple occasions, citing a desire to be protected by his cabinet.

Sessions resigned on Wednesday, just one day after the midterm elections concluded. Trump appointed Matthew Whitaker, Sessions' former chief of staff, to be acting attorney general.

SEE ALSO: One of Republicans' biggest targets in the Senate gloated at Trump after they failed to unseat him

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Megyn Kelly in 2017: 'I regret a lot' of the controversial stuff I've said on live television

30 great deals you can find right now at Nordstrom's annual fall sale

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

nordstrom

In honor of the seasonal shift, Nordstrom just launched a huge fall sale. Today through November 18, you'll find thousands of items on sale for up to 40% off. There are great deals on luxury and everyday clothing for men and women, plus plenty of accessories, shoes, and even home goods. If you need to spruce up your fall wardrobe or stock up on some holiday gifts, it's worth checking out this sale.

We collected 30 great deals across all categories of the sale to give you a sense of what you can find. If anything, we hope this list will inspire you to with a great gift idea, or help you find something you love. Head over to Nordstrom to take advantage of their great deals while they're still around — we have a feeling this stuff will go fast.

If you want to get right to shopping the Fall Sale, here's where to go:

A denim jacket with a fall twist

Madewell Denim Northward Crop Army Jacket, $82.80 (Originally $138) [You save $55.20]



A great pair of jeans

Paige Transcend - Lennox Slim Fit Jeans, $133.33 (Originally $199) [You save $65.67]



A quirky coffee table book

"Being Human" by William Wegman, $14.96 (Originally $24.95) [You save $9.99]



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7 popular third-wave coffee brands you can buy online — including Stumptown, Blue Bottle, and Intelligentsia

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third wave coffee main

Whereas first wave coffee is characterized by increased accessibility and consumption, and second wave coffee by specialty flavors and the social experience of sitting down at a cafe (think: Starbucks), third wave coffee has forged the most meaningful relationship between customer and cup thus far. 

Third wave coffee, which took off during the mid-90s to early 2000s, means that roasters focus on transparency, seasonality, and customer experience. Fair and direct trade practices are central to the business, and customers can learn exactly where their beans came from and how growing partners and farmers are treated. The devotion to the craft and ritual of coffee is clear from the moment you walk through the doors of the beautifully designed coffee shop, and though your cup of joe is expensive, you have to admit — you can taste the difference.  

More often than not, these third wave coffee shops in San Francisco, Portland, New York City, and other major hubs aren't casual pit stops on the way to another destination. They are the final destination, and coffee lovers can't imagine a more exciting pilgrimage than the trek to obtain this specialty coffee. 

While visiting the coffee shop is the best way to enjoy its blends, the next best option if there's no location near you or you want to make it yourself at home is to find it online. Knowing that bags from these coffee roasters are stocked in your pantry, you'll wake up eager to start your morning routine. 

Check our our guide to gifts for coffee lovers here.

Shop the following third wave coffee brands online:

Intelligentsia

Shop Intelligentsia coffee here: Amazon, Target

The Chicago-based Intelligentsia says it's the first specialty coffee company to adopt Direct Trade practices, meaning it collaborates directly with the coffee grower, the grower must commit to sustainable environmental and social practices, and growers are paid at least 25% above Fair Trade price. Its sweet and syrupy Black Cat Project Espresso is a flavorful standout.  



Blue Bottle

Shop Blue Bottle coffee here: Blue Bottle, Target, Jet

In 2017, Nestlé took a majority stake in this Silicon Valley favorite, which had raised $117 million in funding. It sells single-origin whole bean and ground coffee at their peak freshness, which you can order by the bag, or have delivered to you automatically through its subscription option. 



Philz Coffee

Shop Philz Coffee here: Amazon

Philz is being called the next Blue Bottle, having raised $75 million to continue its dominance in the Bay Area and expand beyond. The quirky shop offers a wide range of blends, and its Mint Mojito Iced Coffee has inspired many an internet copycat recipe. Based on how packed its cafes always are, it's clear that loyal customers appreciate its creative coffee and complex flavors. 



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20 great deals we handpicked from REI's massive outdoor gear sale

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REI

REI is home to literally everything you need for an enjoyable adventure in the outdoors. As winter and the holiday season nears, the outdoor retailer is having a huge "Gear Up Get Out" sale that's worth taking advantage of for yourself or anyone on your holiday gift list.

Now through November 19, you can get up to 30% off outdoor apparel, gear, footwear, and accessories.

The limited-time sale includes discounts on jackets, warm base layers, winter boots, tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, ski gear, bikes, and much more.

Whether you're loading up on gear for an upcoming cold-weather excursion, shopping for a warm jacket, or looking for a very specific item, you're likely to find it here. We rounded up some of the best deals, but since the sale is so massive, these product categories can help you find exactly what you need.

Shop the REI Gear Up Get Out sale now or keep reading for our picks, below:

Men's Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket

$138.99, available in eight colors (Originally $199) [You save 30%]

 



Women's Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket

$138.99, available in colors (Originally $199) [You save 30%]



Men's The North Face ThermoBall Snow Triclimate 3-in-1 Jacket

$244.29, available in four colors (Originally $349) [You save 30%]



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Trump's new talking point about Mueller is 'flat out wrong,' legal experts say

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Trump

  • President Donald Trump incorrectly claimed special counsel Robert Mueller's appointment was unconstitutional because he was not confirmed by the Senate. 
  • Trump was addressing criticisms from legal scholars that the appointment of acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker was unconstitutional because the Senate had not confirmed him to his present role.
  • But legal experts tell INSIDER that because Mueller is an "inferior officer" who reports to someone higher up in the Department of Justice and not the President, he does not require Senate confirmation. 

President Donald Trump deflected criticisms of the constitutional validity of the appointment of new acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker on Friday by claiming special counsel Robert Mueller's appointment was unconstitutional because he was not confirmed by Senate — but legal experts say that claim is baseless.

"Mueller was not Senate confirmed," Trump claimed. "Whitaker was Senate confirmed when he was the U.S. attorney from Iowa. Mueller...should've been Senate confirmed. But because of all the conflicts, they didn't want to bring him before the Senate...so don't talk to me about Whitaker."

California-based attorney Alexander Stern explained in a Friday email to INSIDER that because Mueller is what the Supreme Court has designated an "inferior officer" — and not a "principal officer" who reports directly to the President — he does not need to be confirmed by the Senate. 

"Trump is simply flat out wrong that Mueller's appointment is unconstitutional given he reports to someone above him and below Trump," Stern said.

"He previously reported to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Setting aside the likely invalidity of the Whitaker appointment, Mueller would now report to Whitaker," Stern added. "Either way, Mueller does not report directly to the President."

Read more: 'Seriously? This guy?': Matthew Whitaker's appointment has FBI and DOJ officials in a 'daze'

Stern — as well as former acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal and lawyer George Conway — argue that Whitaker's appointment is unconstitutional because as a principal officer who reports directly to Trump, Whitaker is required to receive the advice and consent of the US Senate, as stipulated by the US Constitution’s Appointments Clause and upheld by the Supreme Court.

Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in a 2017 opinion that the authors of the Constitution included provisions for Senate advice & consent because they “recognized the serious risk for abuse and corruption posed by permitting one person to fill every office in the government.” 

Until Wednesday, Whitaker held the position as former Attorney general Jeff Sessions' chief of staff, which did not require Senate confirmation. 

Stern added that while Mueller's appointment is not unconstitutional, "it does add weight to the argument that Whitaker's appointment is unconstitutional."

"Specifically, the chain of command before looked like Jeff Sessions (a Senate-confirmed principal officer who recused himself in the Mueller probe), then Rosenstein (also Senate-confirmed), then Mueller," Stern said. "Now, because Trump unconstitutionally bypassed the Senate to install Whitaker, Mueller is being supervised by someone that did not receive Senate approval."

While the Senate voted to confirm Whitaker to the position of US Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa in 2004, as Trump noted in his press conference, former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner pointed out on Twitter that since Whitaker is no longer serving in that role, a confirmation for a prior position does not make his current appointment constitutionally valid. 

"Under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, past confirmation doesn’t count (both Mueller and Whitaker were confirmed in previous positions)," he said. "They would have to be serving PRESENTLY in a Senate-confirmed position to be eligible for appointment to a 'principal officer' position."

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Netflix's Oscar contender 'Roma' will not be shown at Alamo Drafthouse in a big blow to its exclusive theatrical run

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  • The popular Alamo Drafthouse chain will not be showing Netflix's "Roma."
  • The Oscar contender will be one of the first original Netflix movies to have an exclusive theatrical run before it streams.
  • After weeks of negotiations between Netflix and Drafthouse to show the movie at its Brooklyn, New York location, the theater chain finally felt the streaming giant put too many "restrictions and guidelines" on them, a source close to the negotiations told Business Insider.
  • The movie will instead be shown at New York City's IFC Center, and is locking other locations to show the movie across the country.

 

Netflix wants to keep its powerhouse directors happy going into Oscar season, but one of the first theatrical runs for its original movies with a big name helmer has hit a snag.

Alamo Drafthouse, one of the most prominent independently owned movie chains in the US, will not be showing Netflix's Oscar contender, "Roma," a source close to negotiations between the chain and streaming giant told Business Insider. A source close to Netflix confirmed that Alamo Drafthouse had passed on the movie.

At the end of October, Netflix began to dramatically change course on how it released Oscar-contending movies. Reports surfaced that for the first time Netflix would stop its "day-and-date" model — in which the movie premieres in theaters and on Netflix the same day — and give exclusive theatrical runs of around 1-3 weeks for not just Alfonso Cuarón's "Roma," but two other of its anticipated movies, the Coen brothers' "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs," and Susanne Bier's "Bird Box" starring Sandra Bullock. 

Alamo Drafthouse was one of the reported chains in the mix to show "Roma." But Netflix's terms on how the movie would be released, and how often, led to the popular chain passing on the anticipated title, according to the source.

While "Buster Scruggs" and "Bird Box" are reportedly getting around one-week runs at select theaters before they are available to stream on Netflix, the company wants to pull out all the stops for "Roma," which out of the three has the best chance to win Oscars in the major categories, including best picture.

Along with around a 3-4 week run for the movie, Netflix is specifically looking for theaters that can show the movie with Dolby Atmos sound or in 70mm.

As even four weeks is shorter than the traditional 90-day window that the major chains like AMC, Regal, and Cinemark want movies to be shown in theaters, Netflix knows it cannot go to them. That leaves the streaming giant to depend on the mid-level chains and independently owned arthouses.

Alamo Drafthouse and Netflix had been in discussions for weeks about showing "Roma," specifically at the chain's Brooklyn, New York location, which could show the movie in 70mm. It's one of the only theaters in the city that can pull that off.

Alamo Drafthouse NYC 4547Netflix was stringent on its terms, according to the source, which included that "Roma" have a full four-week run with all the screenings show in 70mm. The company also planned to four-wall the theaters, meaning Netflix would be renting the theater from Drafthouse. (It plans to do this at all the locations where the movies will be played.) This is an unconventional move in the industry, where typically the movie theater splits the box office with the distributor.

Though Drafthouse was willing to show "Roma" at its Brooklyn location, it does not four-wall. Also, the 70mm projector at the location is in its biggest auditorium, meaning that for four weeks the movie would take up its prime space, with Drafthouse unable to schedule in any other titles. That's a tough ask in a time of year when every weekend a new big movie is about to hit theaters.

"Just way too many restrictions and guidelines," the source told Business Insider.

"Roma" will now be screened in New York at Manhattan's IFC Center beginning November 21, IFC confirmed to Business Insider. That theater does not have capabilities to show the movie in 70mm.

Alamo Drafthouse is not the only theater, outside of the majors, to pass on the Netflix offer. Business Insider has reached out to multiple arthouses that said they eventually passed on showing "Roma" due to the terms of Netflix. These include some that would have gotten the movie following its exclusive theatrical run, after the movie began streaming on Netflix December 14.

"Terms are not too high, but higher than it should be for a movie that's streaming at the same time," one theater owner told Business Insider.

Other theaters told Business Insider they would love to show the movie but don't have a venue that can accommodate Netflix's terms.

"It's complicated by Netflix’s insistence that theaters have Dolby Atmos, an extremely expensive sound system that very few theaters can afford," another theater owner said.

SEE ALSO: Sinemia has emerged as a cheap MoviePass alternative, but it has hidden fees and awful customer service

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Who's in and who's out of House committee leadership positions

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Nancy Pelosi,

  • Democratic control of the US House of Representatives means every House committee will have a new chair. 
  • The new crop of committee chairs will include more women and people of color. 
  • The new House leadership also includes several prominent foes of President Donald Trump, who will soon have the power to investigate the president and his administration.

With Democrats sweeping to power in the House, control of the chamber's 22 committees will move from Republican to Democratic hands. 

While it's unclear whether House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi will secure the 218 votes she needs to become the next House Speaker in December, 22 other leadership positions are essentially secured. And the new crop of House leaders will include several of President Donald Trump's prominent foes, who will soon have the power to investigate and subpoena him and his administration.

Rep. Jerry Nadler, the likely next chair of the House Judiciary Committee, has long sparred with Trump and has already said he'll initiate probes into sexual assault and perjury allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Trump's ousting of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. 

Rep. Maxine Waters, who will chair the House financial services committee, has also traded barbs with Trump, who has called her a "seriously low I.Q. person." She will likely work to reinstate consumer protection regulations eroded by the Trump administration.

And Rep. Adam Schiff, the incoming chair of the intelligence committee, has promised to open new investigations into alleged ties between the president and the Russian government.

Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings, the new chair of the oversight committee, has said he'll launch inquiries into voter suppression and alleged fraud in the Trump administration.

The new crop of committee chairs will be significantly more diverse — in gender and race — than their GOP predecessors. While Republicans boasted just two women and no people of color, among their 22 House committee chairs Democrats will have five women committee chairs, three of whom are women of color, and four men of color.

changes house leadership midterms 2018 photos

changes house leadership midterms 2018 table

SEE ALSO: Florida is in chaos as thousands of ballots remain uncounted, and the outcome of the state's key elections could remain unclear for weeks

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NOW WATCH: This top economist has a radical plan to change the way Americans vote

This superfan decked out his apartment with nearly 1,000 collectible figurines

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  • Funko Pops are collectible figurines of characters from almost any comic, show, movie, or video game that you can imagine. They have big bobble heads and large black eyes. 
  • Funko Pop fan, Anthony Peeples has nearly 1,000 of these toys in his New York apartment and his collection could be worth thousands of dollars.
  • In the video above, Anthony shows us his collection and tells us why he loves collecting "Pops."
  • WATCH NEXT: We got our Beanie Baby collections valued >>

Following is a transcript of the video. 

Anthony Peeples: We have between 800 and 1,000 Funko Pops, give or take. I'm Anthony Peeples. I'm a Funko Pop Collector. I'm feeling high-five fantastic, and I hope you are as well.

Narrator: Funko Pops are everywhere. They're those small plastic figurines with giant heads and big round eyes. There are pops of pretty much every character you can think of. And fans are obsessed. The company did half a billion dollars in sales in 2017. And has already surpassed that in 2018. Anthony, who goes by the nickname GeekyPeeples, has taken his obsession to another level.

Peeples: Funko Funatics is definitely a common term that we all use to refer to ourselves.

Narrator: Anthony and his partner, Raul, have been collecting Pops since 2015. And they can be found all over their home.

Peeples: They're displayed in all the various places that we can find room in our New York City apartment. We have one room that is our room that we've kind of transformed into a Pop den. My DC wall is dedicated to "Batman the Animated Series," which was very important to me in my childhood growing up. I'm a big Marvel boy, so I collect a lot of the Marvel lines. I have one wall dedicated to Freddy Funko, the Funko mascot. The other wall is kind of, "storage." It's a slow process so I'm building the room up.

Narrator: His kitchen is decorated with Pops that are food related.

Peeples: A friend of mine, he actually displays his Mr. Freeze Pops in the freezer.

Narrator: And when we visited in October, his living room was decorated with Halloween-related Pops.

Peeples: So all of the Pops that are horror based, or fun, or scary. And we also have Pops displayed in our bedroom.

Narrator: Anthony keeps track of his Pops using several online apps. Which estimate that his collection could be worth thousands of dollars, based on market value. But the prices can change over time. His first Pop was a Storm figurine given to him as a gift from friends.

Peeples: And then from there, it just took fire in side of me and I just wanted to collect as many as I can. I actually still have that Storm, it's right there on the wall. I keep it right where I can always see it.

Narrator: His collection includes many rare Pops that were released as limited editions. Including some ultra rare ones called Chase Pops.

Peeples: A Chase Pop is a Pop that you can find, kind of like the golden ticket that Willy Wonka was giving out. It's very rare, and there's only a certain limited amount of them. And they also have a special sticker on them. Also, if you collect comics, it's like a variant cover.

Narrator: In 2017, he went to the grand opening of the Funko Headquarters in Washington. And got his hands on one of his most prized figurines.

Peeples: It's the Emerald Freddy. It has the flagship sticker on it, which was also very rare. I also have another very rare Pop. The blue chrome Batman from San Diego Comic Con. I slept for four days in front of the San Diego Convention, and I ended up getting into the booth. I cried a lot because I was so happy and so excited. The chrome Batman is worth a lot of money. I've seen it go up right now, currently, as high on Ebay as $800.

Narrator: He and his partner also placed in a lip-syncing contest at a Funko Event. And chose two giant Robin and Joker Pops as prizes, that he estimates are now worth about $1,200 each.

Peeples: I do also have just a couple rare Proto Pops.

Narrator: These are basically prototypes of Pops before they're massed produced. Anthony doesn't just collect Pops, however, he also organizes events with fellow collectors, including fundraisers for charity.

Peeples: I host here in New York, periodically, events that I call Peeples Pop!Swap. Those events have been major, major moments where I've gotten to meet so many collectors and have so many wonderful friends because of that.

Narrator: In addition to swapping, Anthony often sells Pops to help fund his trips to various conventions around the world to buy new ones.

Peeples: Cause it's very expensive. The expenses do mount up.

Narrator: He's active in the official Funko Forum, a message board for fans. So he always knows where to be to get the rare Pops for cheap.

Peeples: I try to get them as close to the retail value that they come out for. Narrator: But he will occasionally have to pay upwards of $100 for some that he missed to complete his set. He has a few basic tips for Funko hunters.

Peeples: So it's best to just be on your game. Know your information. Know where the Pop is you want. Know how much it's going to cost. And be prepared to line up and hopefully score some wonderful Funko Pops.

Narrator: And he says he has no desire to stop collecting anytime soon.

Peeples: Whether I collect Funko Pops or not, the one thing that is a constant, is that the people I've met and the relationships I've established from being in the Funko Pop community, they're not going anywhere in my heart. I will keep in contact whether I collect Funkos or not.

And there's a story behind each one.

Some people identify themselves as "I'm a fiend!" and they'll be wearing the fiend patch. Or they're a Funkero. There's Jersey Funko and there's Chicago Funko. So many across the country and they identify themselves in that way. But we're all Funatics, we're all Funko Funatics. 

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18 stunning photos from the night the Berlin Wall came down 29 years ago

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East German citizens climb the Berlin wall at the Brandenburg Gate as they celebrate the opening of the East German border, November 10, 1989. REUTERS/File

  • The Berlin Wall was built in 1961 and separated East and West Berlin.
  • The wall divided families and took away basic human rights.
  • On November 9, 1989, people gathered at the wall to begin tearing it down after it was announced by the East German Communist Party that citizens of the German Democratic Republic could cross the border whenever they pleased.

 

This week marks the 29th anniversary of the destruction of the Berlin Wall.  

Built in 1961, the wall divided East and West Berlin. Constructed by the eastern, Soviet-ruled portion of the city, the wall was meant to keep Western "fascists" from invading the East — but it also served as a barricade to those Easterners attempting to migrate to the West, capitalist territory.

The barbed-wire-topped wall divided families and took away basic human rights, keeping the population of East Berlin trapped inside Soviet territory. At 12 feet tall and 4 feet wide, the wall and its surrounding security systems were known as "The Death Strip," as nearly 100 people were killed in their attempt to cross its miles of trenches and trip-wire machine guns.

On November 9, 1989, it was announced by the East German Communist Party that citizens of the German Democratic Republic, or East Germany, could cross the border whenever they pleased. That night, mayhem ensued at the border. Many who lived in the East crossed freely to the West for the first time in nearly 30 years, and citizens even began chipping away at the wall.

Ahead, see photos from that infamous night and the nights that followed.

(Editor's Note: Sarah Jacobs contributed to the original version of this report)

SEE ALSO: Stark photos show what street food is like in North Korea

East German soldiers act as a barricade, blocking West Berliners waiting to welcome East Berlin citizens at the Allied guardhouse "Checkpoint Charlie" November 9, 1989.



When the clock struck midnight, all the checkpoints along the wall were forced to open.



Berliners carried hammers and chisels to begin chipping away at the wall.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Photos show the rise and fall of Black Friday

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toys r us store shopping

  • Though Black Friday became one of the biggest and busiest shopping days of the year, it hasn't always been that way.
  • Before it exploded into the national, post-Thanksgiving event we know today, it was reportedly a quirky tradition unique to Philadelphians.
  • And now, the holiday is experiencing more changes.
  • Here's the evolution of Black Friday, from its 19th-century namesake to the dying shopping phenomenon it is today.

Black Friday has long been associated with turkey dinner and bargain-priced holiday shopping.

It's turned into one of the most profitable days for retailers, who raked in $8 billion from Black Friday and Thanksgiving sales in 2017.

But it wasn't always that way.

Here's how Black Friday has evolved over the last two centuries.

SEE ALSO: Photos show what 'Black Friday' looks like around the world

DON'T MISS: 11 insider facts most Black Friday workers know — and you probably don't

The day after Thanksgiving has long marked the beginning of the holiday shopping season, starting with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924.

Source: Business Insider



The behemoth retailer used the event as a living and breathing advertisement ahead of the holiday season.

Source: Business Insider



It helped cement the Friday after Thanksgiving as the ultimate holiday shopping day.

Source: INSIDER



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

While he was Jeff Sessions' top aide, Matthew Whitaker reportedly advised Trump on how he could force the DOJ to cave to his demands

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  • Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker reportedly counseled top DOJ officials on how to counter President Donald Trump's demands for investigations into his political adversaries, while at the same time advising the White House on how it could force the DOJ to investigate those same claims.
  • In conversations with Trump, Whitaker is said to have cast himself as a staunch loyalist and promised he would "extract as much as he could from the Justice Department on the president's behalf."
  • Whitaker is now in charge of the Russia investigation and the special counsel Robert Mueller, and Friday's news is just the latest in a series of revelations that throw Whitaker's independence from the White House into question.

In May, Matthew Whitaker, then the chief of staff to former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, was reportedly counseling top DOJ officials on how to counter President Donald Trump's fervent demands to investigate the baseless claim that the FBI "infiltrated or surveilled" his 2016 presidential campaign.

At the same time, Whitaker was advising the White House on how to force the DOJ to investigate those very same claims.

That's according to a new report from Vox, which said Whitaker presented himself as a sympathetic ear when Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein agreed that giving in to Trump's demands would amount to improperly politicizing the DOJ and the FBI.

On the other hand, Vox reported, Whitaker was in talks with the White House about how Trump could best pressure Sessions and Rosenstein to cave.

One person close to Whitaker told Vox that he was merely trying to calm the rising tensions between Trump and the nation's top law-enforcement officials.

But two other sources told the outlet that when talking to the president, Whitaker cast himself as a staunch loyalist and promised he would "extract as much as he could from the Justice Department on the president's behalf." Whitaker also had several private phone calls with either Trump or the White House chief of staff John Kelly during this time.

This week, Trump ousted Sessions and announced that Whitaker would take over as acting attorney general until Trump nominates and the Senate confirms a permanent replacement.

Read more:'Seriously? This guy?': Matthew Whitaker's appointment as acting attorney general has FBI and DOJ officials in a 'daze'

donald trump

The West Wing's 'eyes and ears' in the DOJ

In his new role, Whitaker is now in charge of the Russia investigation and the special counsel Robert Mueller. Vox's report is just the latest in a series of revelations that throw Whitaker's independence into question.

Once described as the West Wing's "eyes and ears" in the DOJ, Whitaker made the rounds on right-wing media over the last two years claiming without evidence, that there was "no collusion" between the Trump campaign and Russia.

While he was Sessions' chief of staff, Whitaker reportedly met with Trump in the Oval Office over a dozen times. And according to The Washington Post, whenever Trump complained about the ongoing Russia investigation Whitaker "often smiled knowingly and nodded in assent."

He also said in a CNN op-ed last year that Mueller had overstepped his mandate by digging into the Trump Organization's finances.

And late Thursday, audio footage resurfaced of Whitaker claiming the "left is trying to sow this theory that essentially Russians interfered with the US election, which has been proven false. They did not have any impact in the election."

The US intelligence community concluded last year that Russia mounted an elaborate campaign to meddle in the 2016 election to elevate Trump to the presidency. The assessment did not reach a conclusion about whether Russia's meddling had an impact on the results.

In another recording reported on by Mother Jones, Whitaker said the president cannot obstruct justice and can kill any investigation he wants.

The Post reported that despite Whitaker's controversial remarks about Mueller and the Russia probe, the acting attorney general has no plans to recuse himself, even if DOJ ethics officials urge him to do so. Sources also told The Post that Whitaker would likely oppose a request from Mueller to subpoena the president if it came down to it.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said he does not know Whitaker.

But in an interview with Fox & Friends last month, Trump called Whitaker "a great guy," adding, "I mean, I know Matt Whitaker."

SEE ALSO: 'Seriously? This guy?': Matthew Whitaker's appointment as acting attorney general has FBI and DOJ officials in a 'daze'

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NOW WATCH: Trump once won a lawsuit against the NFL — but the result was an embarrassment

Here's how to quickly check if you have a Google+ account — and delete it

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  • Google is shutting down its Google+ social network.
  • A software glitch exposed the private information of hundreds of thousands of Google+ users between 2015 and this March, when the company became aware of the bug, according to a recent report in The Wall Street Journal.
  • Google chose not to disclose this information for fear of regulatory pressure and bad public relations, The Journal reported.
  • Many people probably aren't aware if they even have a Google+ account. Here's how to check.

After The Wall Street Journal reported in October that Google accidentally exposed the private information of hundreds of thousands of Google+ users over three years, you might not feel so comfortable having a Google+ account anymore, even though Google plans to shut down the social network.

In March, Google became aware of a security glitch that had exposed user data since 2015, The Journal reported. After fixing the bug, Google ultimately decided against disclosing this information for fear of regulatory pressure, according to the report. The company has said it hasn't found evidence that the exposed data was misused or inappropriately accessed by any third party.

Created in 2011, Google+ never seemed to gain much traction in the social-media sphere, and Google eventually turned it into the underlying account infrastructure connecting its various Google software products, so you might not even realize you're a member. But it's likely that you are — if you have a Google account, you've probably been given a Google+ account by default.

If you want to jump ship before Google formally shuts down the social network, there's an easy way to check whether you're signed up — and delete your account.

First, make sure you're signed into Google, then go to Gmail.com or the Google homepage. Next, click on your profile picture in the top-right corner.



Next, check to see whether there's a link that says "Google+ Profile" beneath your name and email address in that window. If the link shows up, you have a Google+ account. Click it to go to your profile.



Once you're at your Google+ profile, click "settings" on the left side of the page.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Behind the scenes of one of the midterms' biggest upsets — Democrat Max Rose's defeat of incumbent Republican Dan Donovan on Staten Island

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  • Congressional candidate Max Rose, a Democrat, defeated Republican incumbent Dan Donovan in a district that includes Staten Island and part of Brooklyn.
  • Staten Island is known as New York City's reddest borough and went to Donald Trump in 2016.
  • Take a look behind the scenes of his election night party.

SEE ALSO: 12 records the 2018 midterm elections smashed

When I met Garth Powell, he was standing outside a polling site in Staten Island with a sign that simply said, "MAX ROSE FOR CONGRESS."

He'd taken 10 days off work to canvas for Rose, going door to door for days to introduce Staten Islanders and South Brooklyn residents to the candidate.

Like many of the volunteers for Rose who I met on November 6, he'd had a handful of hours of sleep the night before, but he was quick to smile and greet all who walked past him. He'd been volunteering since August for Rose, but even he was nervous.

When asked how he felt about Rose's chances, he glanced up at the rain and shrugged before turning to me. "It's Staten Island," he offered in response, likely referring to the fact that for that Staten Island is considered one of the strongest bases of Republican support in New York City.



Dan Donovan, the Republican incumbent for New York's 11th District (which encompasses all of Staten Island and the southern tip of Brooklyn) won the last congressional election by 53,000 votes.

The district voted heavily in favor of Donald Trump in 2016.



Many of the campaign volunteers I spoke with during the day shared a similar sense of clouded optimism.

But neither Staten Island's Republican legacy nor heavy rain and wind deterred the hundreds of volunteers who knocked on an estimated 500,000 doors leading up to the midterm election.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Now it's full steam ahead for Trump's trade war with China

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  • Democrats winning the House will slow many of President Donald Trump's policy proposals.
  • But one item on Trump's agenda on which he could actually double down is his trade war with China.
  • Trump's ability to attack China without Congress will make it easier to escalate the trade war.

The midterm elections will have a significant imprint on the policy course of the next two years, as the GOP push for more tax cuts, Obamacare repeal, and other wish-list items will likely be stymied by the Democrat-controlled House.

But the gridlock coming to Washington is unlikely to slow down one of President Donald Trump's newest and most impactful policies: the trade war with China. Analysts and economists say the president may even double down on the fight with Beijing.

"China trade tensions will continue and possibly worsen," said Isaac Boltansky, a policy analyst at research and trading firm Compass Point. "We believe the electoral split-decision will result in President Trump’s trade rhetoric — especially with China — becoming more bellicose in the weeks ahead."

For  his part, Trump suggested a possible deal with China during a post-midterm press conference on Wednesday.

"We're going to try and make a deal with China because I want to have great relationships with President Xi, as I do, and also with China," Trump said. Trump and Xi are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the G20 summit at the end of November.

But in the same press conference, Trump touted the amount of money generated by tariffs on roughly $250 billion of Chinese imports. Meanwhile, the rest of his administration has been aggressively going after Beijing despite the president's recent suggestions of a possible deal.

Boltansky noted that the complexity of the disagreements between the US and China, which leaves little hope for a quick deal. And he said that both Trump's and Xi's stubbornness makes it less likely that the two sides can come to a resolution anytime soon.

There are also reports that the US is preparing tariffs on all remaining Chinese imports not already caught up in the conflict — some $257 billion worth of goods.

Trump has nothing to do but fight China

The Democratic House takeover may actually mean less likelihood of congressional intervention to stop the trade war.

"GOP House leaders failed to restrain the president’s escalating tariff wars because they didn’t want to challenge a president of their own party," said Daniel Griswold, a senior research fellow at the pro-free trade Mercatus Center. "Democratic House leaders in the new Congress are unlikely to challenge Trump on China and steel because they largely agree with him."

The GOP is generally viewed as the party more inclined to support free trade. The party helped pass the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, in the 1990s. Even President Barack Obama's Trans-Pacific Partnership received the bulk of its congressional support from Republicans.

Democrats have been historically more skeptical of free-trade deals, and many party members have been sympathetic to Trump's tough talk on China.

The Democratic House triumph will also leave Trump with few policy options to focus his attention, said James Knightley, chief international economist at ING.

"The President is likely to focus his attention on areas where his executive powers give him more leeway to set the agenda, such as trade policy," Knightley said. "This suggests that he is likely to continue pushing hard on China to make concessions that will contribute to getting the bilateral trade deficit lower and do more to protect US intellectual property rights."

The trade war is a concern for economists who say the new duties will increase costs for US businesses and consumers. Ultimately, economists predict that a protracted trade war with China could cause US economic growth to slow — and in the worst-case scenario push the country into a recession.

Trump's trade war has been conducted almost exclusively using executive powers enacted by various acts of Congress. For instance, the China tariffs were imposed under the auspices of the Trade Act of 1974. This means that even if they wanted to, Democrats have few options to slow down the trade war's escalation. 

"We expect Trump to lean in heavily on trade — it is one of the few unilateral policies he can enact in a now gridlocked Washington," said Chris Krueger, a policy strategist at Cowen Washington Research Group.

SEE ALSO: IT'S OFFICIAL: The GOP tax law was a political flop

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NOW WATCH: Megyn Kelly in 2017: 'I regret a lot' of the controversial stuff I've said on live television

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