Pramila Jayapal

The Russian émigré who acquainted the world with the salacious rumor of Donald Trump's unverified encounter with full-bladdered sex workers says Americans missed a darker figure lurking behind the former president. Igor Danchenko, the primary source behind the notorious Steele Dossier, remains deeply concerned about the significance of Trump's "pee tape" story and what it means for his potential reelection, Rolling Stone reported Monday."It sounds like this stupid college prank," he said. "But it also symbolized to me — at the time, certainly — this sort of strange, perverted closeness that Trump, before he became a candidate, established with certain important politically-exposed individuals in Russia.”Danchenko gave an in-depth interview to Rolling Stone on the explosive dossier about Trump's alleged ties to Russia and the reactions from Americans he found baffling. Buzzfeed first published the 35-page Steel Dossier in 2017, just 10 days before Trump would take office. Many of the unverified rumors were collected by Danchenko during about a half-dozen trips to Russia in 2016, he told Rolling Stone. Danchenko, who worked for a business intelligence firm at the time, didn’t know his work was financed by the Democratic National Committee, nor did he predict Attorney General Bill Barr would declassify reports from his subsequent FBI interviews and effectively out him as a government informant, Rolling Stone reports. ALSO READ: Inside the Democratic National Convention corporate moneyfest“I’m chained to this dossier, to Trump,” Danchenko said. “And I can’t unlink myself from it.”The most memorable rumor outlined in the dossier takes place two years after former President Barack Obama humiliated Trump at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner and motivated him to run for president.The rumor goes that Trump, staying in a Russian Ritz-Carlton for a Miss Universe pageant, hosted oligarchs and sex workers in his presidential suite."According to Danchenko, several sources in Russia — sources he still won’t reveal — told him rumors about what Trump did next," Rolling Stone reports. "He instructed the sex workers to pee on the bed."Trump denied the rumor in a press conference by pointing to his understanding of Russian surveillance and his fear of germs. No evidence has ever surfaced to substantiate the claim. But Danchenko's boss Christopher Steele added this rumor to an eponymous dossier and sent it to David Kramer, an aide of Sen. John McCain, who leaked it to Buzzfeed without the informant's knowledge, according to Rolling Stone. The Russian émigré was outraged that the document was published "unsanitized" because his personal goal had not been to provide the news cycle scandals, but to better inform the American public about its ascendent leader, Rolling Stone reports.“There’s a serious national-security issue here, a serious investigation," he said. "[But] it’s just, ‘Who is going to publish the bigger scoop with the most likes and retweets?'"Danchenko regrets the inclusion of the pee tape rumor, which Rolling Stone posits "hijacked the dialogue of serious allegations about Russian influence with huge geopolitical importance."Americans, distracted by the salacious scandals Danchenko still believes were correct, forgot about one important person: Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I still think there’s some leverage they hold against Trump," he said. "You want to call it pee tape? Call it pee tape.”

Kamala Harris' campaign taunted Donald Trump and his "handlers" in a dispute over the rules for their upcoming presidential debate.The former president has suggested he might not take part in the Sept. 10 debate because he doesn't believe ABC News would be an impartial host, and his team would like for the microphones to be muted except for when it's a candidate's turn to speak – a condition that the Harris team rejects, reported CNN.“We have told ABC and other networks seeking to host a possible October debate that we believe both candidates’ mics should be live throughout the full broadcast,” said Brian Fallon, the Harris campaign’s senior adviser for communications.The campaign spokesman then goaded the Republican nominee by casting doubt on his ability to behave himself onstage.“Our understanding is that Trump’s handlers prefer the muted microphone because they don’t think their candidate can act presidential for 90 minutes on his own," Fallon said. "We suspect Trump’s team has not even told their boss about this dispute because it would be too embarrassing to admit they don’t think he can handle himself against Vice President Harris without the benefit of a mute button."ALSO READ: Donald Trump exploits AP photo error for new $99 'Save America' bookThe Trump campaign has argued that it was agreeing to the same guidelines as the previous debate, with President Joe Biden, where microphones were muted unless a candidate was taking their turn to speak.“Enough with the games. We accepted the ABC debate under the exact same terms as the CNN debate,” Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller said in a statement.

Juleanna Glover, the CEO of corporate consultancy Ridgely Walsh, recently took a look at former President Donald Trump's campaign spending reports and delivered a stark warning to anyone who has forked over significant sums to his reelection bid.Writing in the New York Times, Glover makes the case that giving money to Trump is a highly risky investment, given where donors' money has been going."Anyone who has spent time reviewing Donald Trump’s campaign spending reports would quickly conclude they’re a governance nightmare," she contended. "There is so little disclosure about what happened to the billions raised in 2020 and 2024 that donors (and maybe even the former president himself) can’t possibly know how it was spent."Drilling into specifics, Glover said that an analysis of Trump's 2020 campaign expenses showed that large sums of money went "into a legal and financial black hole reportedly controlled by Trump family members and close associates" and she says that this year's campaign is shaping up to be largely the same.ALSO READ: Trump drastically inflates annual Fentanyl death numbers: fact checkIn 2020, notes Glover, roughly two-thirds of all money spent by the Trump campaign was shoveled into American Made Media Consultants, a Delaware-based firm whose first president was reportedly none other than Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of the former president who has since been installed in a leadership position at the Republican National Committee.Given this, it's little surprise that the same pattern that governed the Trump campaign's spending in 2020 is now being replicated this year."This election, the Trump campaign and four of its PACs have paid Red Curve Solutions, another private company, at least $18 million," writes Glober. "The Campaign Legal Center says Red Curve appears to pay Mr. Trump’s legal bills and then gets reimbursed by the PACs. (The law is murky on what types of legal bills can be paid by campaigns, but some are allowed.) The head of Red Curve also serves as the treasurer for the Trump campaign as well as the affiliated PACs. What percentage of donor contributions go to lawyers defending Mr. Trump? It’s impossible to know."Read the full piece at this link.

A biographer of Donald Trump's is seeing the ex-president start to panic after another huge night for the Democratic Party at their convention in Chicago. David Cay Johnston spotted one of Donald Trump's latest fundraising emails as a sign of anxiety. The Trump campaign's fundraising numbers have lagged despite hosting the Republican National Convention and naming his vice presidential running mate. In July, he was only able to pull in $139 million compared to Kamala Harris' nearly $500 million. Read Also: ‘A little boy’: Former GOP congressman says Trump’s worst tantrums are yet to comeThe language, he pointed out, is "red-baiting," Johnston said, "and sliming of her donors." The email flashes "EMERGENCY ALERT" at the top and another "ALERT" in a graphic at the bottom. The text is in all caps and begging for help. "She's expecting millions more dirty liberal dollars to pour in today," Trump's team wrote, revealing the Democrats' high fundraising numbers. "Today might be her best fundraising day ever!" Indeed, according to the Trump biographer, this is the "latest sign of [Trump's] panic." — (@)

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, a longtime congressman from New Jersey and unflinching critic of former President Donald Trump, died at 87 years old on Wednesday, his family announced.Pascrell (D-N.J.), a former public school teacher, state assemblyman, and mayor of Paterson, was first elected to Congress in 1996 and served 14 terms.His death led to an outpouring of tributes from dignitaries in New Jersey and across the country. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, called him "a constant fighter for what is right and just."Pascrell, not one to hold back for fear of impropriety, was known for memorable one-liners. After he arrived in Washington, he put a bumper sticker on his door that said "NAFTA is Shafta," expressing his opposition to free trade agreements."The joy of Bill Pascrell is you never walked away from Bill Pascrell saying he was undecided," Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), his colleague on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, said in 2020.As he advanced in age, Pascrell became something of an ally to younger colleagues, endorsing a Green New Deal, for example. In 2019, he tweeted a satirical article from The Onion titled "82-Year-Old New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell Quietly Asks Ilhan Omar If He Can Be Part Of The Squad.""Well. How 'bout it," he jokingly asked the the small, left-wing band of lawmakers, getting an immediate "You're in, Bill Pascrell!" in response from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).Mostly, Pascrell was known in his later years for his no-holds-barred criticism of Trump—whose tax returns he pursued vigorously, in his role on the Ways and Means Committee—and other Republicans, and the comedy he produced at their expense.Pascrell took seeming delight in Trump's recent felony conviction in the New York hush money trial.A few days earlier, Pascrell took aim at U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who's been mired in controversy for unreported gifts he accepted from Republican megadonors in the past. Pascrell posted an artistic rendering, based on a real scene from five years ago, of Thomas smoking a cigar while he sits beside megadonor Harlan Crow, his main benefactor, and right-wing legal influencer Leonard Leo, among others.Pascrell communicated with a directness that many Democratic officeholders are reluctant to employ, drawing praise—and smiles—from left-leaning followers of his social media account.In 2018, when Trump remarked that immigrants were coming to the U.S. from "shithole" countries, Pascrell invoked a racist character from the 1970s sitcom All in the Family.Pascrell, who was an advocate for veterans who'd suffered brain injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan, objected to Trump's disrespect for those who'd given their lives for the country.During the pandemic, Pascrell warned that Trump's approach to dealing with Covid-19 could be deadly for Americans.Trump's attorney general, William "Bill" Barr, was a frequent target of Pascrell's wrath: The congressman called him the "worst most corrupt despicable attorney general in U.S. history." So when Barr made claims about the Kenosha, Wisconsin, riots of 2020, Pascrell proved skeptical.In a 2020 debate, when Trump interrupted President Joe Biden while the then-Democratic nominee spoke about the military service of his son Beau Biden, who'd died of cancer five years earlier, Pascrell was unimpressed.Pascrell was an indefatigable critic of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, whom he said had tried to sabotage—that is, slow down—the work of the U.S. Postal Service as a way of helping Trump's elections chances in 2020. (Most mail-in votes were for Democrats.) Pascrell blamed not just DeJoy but also the service's Board of Governors who had appointed the Republican businessman as their head.Pascrell kept beating the drum against DeJoy, unsuccessfully, until he died. (DeJoy is still the postmaster general.) The congressman also regularly used social media as a platform to argue that Republicans posed a threat to democracy.Pascrell, who was the second-oldest member of the House, will likely be replaced by another Democrat, as his district leans solidly blue.

Progressives aren't necessarily pushing Vice President Harris to champion controversial policies like Medicare for All ahead of the election.

Many members of Congress said the Harris–Walz campaign would drive turnout among young people, though some doubted that would occur.

Beneath Democrats' forceful show of unity around Kamala Harris in Chicago, a quiet struggle is playing out over her – and her party's – positions on thorny issues like immigration and Israel.Why it matters: Multiple progressive lawmakers acknowledged to Axios that they are uncomfortable with how Democrats have tacked to the center and previewed a schism that will likely come into full view after Nov. 5."I will be pursuing a progressive agenda with many members of the Progressive Caucus," Rep. Chuy García (D-Ill.) told Axios."So we're going to have those tensions play out." Driving the news: Harris has gone back on a multitude of progressive positions she took in 2020, including support for a fracking ban, single-payer health care, an assault weapons buy-back program and Supreme Court expansion.The Democratic platform codifies those shifts to the center and then some, removing references to universal health care from the 2020 platform while adding hawkish language on border security.Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), who won a special election in February by supporting a border crackdown, is slated to speak to the convention Wednesday about his views on immigration, Axios first reported.What they're saying: García said he is "personally not comfortable" with the party's shift on border security, blasting it as a "defensive" and "reactive" response to GOP attacks.Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) said she feels "the same way" as García, telling Axios: "The problem that we are in is that we cannot seem to separate [the] border from immigration reform.""Everyday Americans want to see a progressive agenda. ... This is the kind of work that you're going to hear us continue to talk about behind the scenes, publicly and everywhere we go," Ramirez said.Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) told Axios progressives "have some real work to do ... to stop letting Fox News drag our politics so far to the right" on issues like immigration, though he said he doesn't "put that on any presidential campaign."Between the lines: Progressive lawmakers' willingness to talk openly about their concerns is notable given how successfully Democrats have played up their unity this year.It is a signal that while the intra-party divides which dominated the 2016 and 2020 election cycles have been placed on the back-burner this year, they aren't going anywhere in the long term.Zoom in: Another tug-of-war playing out between progressives and the establishment is the convention's treatment of the pro-Palestinian "uncommitted" delegates who are pushing for speaking time and changes to the platform.Ramirez and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told Axios they are among the lawmakers pushing the party to accommodate those demands to avoid alienating young and progressive voters."I think that there is a willingness, so hopefully we can continue to move that forward," Jayapal said.Yes, but: Some progressives insisted that these are fights that should be kept largely behind the scenes at least until after the election."Look, the platform is always a challenge ... but really what matters is the legislative agenda," said Jayapal.Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) told Axios: "Is the platform perfect? In my opinion, no. But I'm not looking for perfection. I'm looking for decency."The other side: Moderates, too, are closing their ears to the argument that the party needs to do more to appease progressives."Do they want to be right or do they want to win?" said Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.). "If we want to win, then we need to appeal to not just Democrats ... once we're in power, we can have those discussions."The bottom line: Nearly every lawmaker who spoke to Axios expressed hope that Harris would pursue a bold progressive agenda in office – though they acknowledged that will depend largely on whether Democrats hold full control of Congress.Still, they are not about to let her off the hook: "Many of us support a Green New Deal and a just transition to a society that is more sustainable, so those are all debates and fights we'll have after the election," said García.

Former Sen. Bob Menendez attends a Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee hearing in 2015 on the impact of U.S. policy changes on human rights and Democracy in Cuba.

President Joe Biden has been objectively good for business, especially relative to the risk of the chaos that would follow Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Yet it’s no secret that the relationship between Biden and the business community has been poor. The presidential candidacy of Kamala Harris offers Democrats the chance for a [...]

Jewish Democrats on Capitol Hill are up in arms over the liberal attacks on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), saying the potential vice presidential pick has been unfairly maligned merely because he’s the leading Jewish figure on Vice President Harris’s shortlist. A number of voices on the far left have gone after Shapiro in recent [...]

As Vice President Harris weighs her choice for running mate, House Democrats are increasingly advocating for a former colleague: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. First elected to Congress in 2006, Walz served in the House for 12 years and rose to become the top Democrat on the powerful Veterans Affairs Committee before heading home in 2019 [...]

Democrats are banking on American voters ignoring Vice President Kamala Harris's record while in public office, Tribune Content Agency columnist Cal Thomas writes.

Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris delivers a eulogy for Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee at Fallbrook Church in Houston on Thursday.

Six Democrats also voted for the resolution, including Rep. Jared Golden.

One lawmaker called Steward CEO Ralph de la Torre "the poster child" for corporate greed in health care.

By The Associated Press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to make a long-awaited White House visit to meet with President Joe Biden and likely Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at an important moment for all three politicians. On Wednesday, Biden made his first address since his decision to drop out of the [...]

WASHINGTON — When Israel’s prime minister delivers a controversial address to Congress on Wednesday, it won’t be with the usual backdrop for such an occasion.

Who has endorsed Kamala Harris for president now that Joe Biden has dropped out? Here is a list of the current Democrats who support her, and a few notable figures who haven't yet.

Vice President Kamala Harris and her allies quickly leaped into action Sunday, spending hours calling Democratic leaders, donors and officials who may end up on the shortlist to become her running mate.

A number of Democratic lawmakers, governors and past leaders were quick to rally behind Vice President Harris as she pursues the Democratic Party's presidential nomination following President Biden's withdrawal from the race. Shortly after dropping out of the presidential race, Biden endorsed Harris as his successor, stating it is "time to come together and beat" [...]

Harris said Sunday she would seek the Democratic nomination after Biden announced he would drop out of the race and endorsed her.

President Joe Biden, former President Bill Clinton and former presidential candidate and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton all endorsed Harris on Sunday.

The hard-line pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime has been protesting against, of all people, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders. Where did the Democratic representative from New York and the independence senator from Vermont go astray? Didn't they denounce...