News from the note…
A round up of the day’s news that might be of interest to you.
Consider this an OPEN THREAD, folks. Chat about any of the stories listed, share links to stories that caught your eye today, and generally have a good time discussing whatever you want.
Keeping up with the cosmetics: Kourtney Kardashian to urge makeup reform on Capitol Hill
From The Hill
Reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian is set to make an appearance on Capitol Hill Tuesday to speak on cosmetics reform alongside Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.).
Pallone, the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has previously called for changes to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authority over cosmetics, arguing the laws regulating the industry in the U.S. are “obsolete.”
Gretchen Carlson, a #MeToo trailblazer, will make TV return
From Politico
Gretchen Carlson, the former Fox News host, is returning to TV.
Carlson will create and host a new series of documentary specials on A&E Networks, the company announced on Monday. The move marks her first television venture since leaving Fox News in 2016 after accusing Roger Ailes, the network’s chairman at the time, of sexual harassment.
Stormy Daniels lawyer challenges Hannity to faceoff; calls Fox’s MacCallum ‘classless’
From The Hill
The lawyer for adult-film star Stormy Daniels is challenging Sean Hannity to “a straight up discussion by two men” about his client’s case against the president’s personal attorney, Michael Cohen.
‘Stupid question’: Trump dismisses talk of pardoning Michael Cohen
From Politico
President Donald Trump reacted negatively Tuesday to a question about whether he’d seek to pardon Michael Cohen, his longtime associate and attorney whose home and office were raided by FBI agents earlier this month.
Asked by ABC’s Jon Karl whether he would consider a pardon for Cohen, the president, who was meeting in the Oval Office with French President Emmanuel Macron, glared and snapped, “Stupid question.”
Macron will have to ‘pull a rabbit out of the hat’ to save Iran deal
From CNN
Amid the pomp and circumstance of a full state visit, French President Emmanuel Macron is on a rescue mission to convince President Donald Trump to stick with the Iran nuclear deal. But despite the apparent warmth of the relationship between the two leaders, he faces an uphill struggle.
It’s not just the French leader who is going all in to save the pact: The cavalry will arrive on Friday in the form of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and she may be followed by British Prime Minister Theresa May, though a phone call is more likely.
From more on this topic from The News Blender
Trump paves way for Ronny Jackson to withdraw as VA nominee
From Axios
President Trump acknowledged Tuesday that his pick to head the Veterans Affairs Department, Dr. Ronny Jackson, has an “experience problem,” adding that, if he were Jackson, he would pull his name from the running, but said that it’s up to him to decide.
For more on this topic from The News Blender
VA nominee Ronny Jackson’s Confirmation Hearing Postponed
Russia likely targeted more than 21 states before 2016 election: official
From The Hill
A top Department of Homeland Security official said Tuesday that Russian hackers likely targeted more than 21 states before the 2016 election as part of a broader effort to interfere in the vote.
For more on this topic from The News Blender
Did Russia’s Interference Impact the Outcome of the 2016 Election?
Cambridge Analytica whistleblower briefs House Dems
From The Hill
Christopher Wylie, the whistleblower behind revelations about Cambridge Analytica’s handling of Facebook user data, on Tuesday briefed a group of House Democrats behind closed doors.
Following the interview, Democrats from the House Judiciary and the Oversight and Government Reform committees warned about the prospect of election interference on social media and urged the panels’ chairs to hold full hearings on the data scandal.
Manafort interviewed twice by FBI before joining Trump’s 2016 campaign, new documents show
From WaPo
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was interviewed by the FBI twice while he was working as a political consultant for a Ukrainian political party — several years before he was named a top adviser to Donald Trump, newly filed court documents revealed.
