News from the note…

A round up of the day’s news that might be of interest to you.

This is 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.

Brennan considering legal action

Former CIA Director John Brennan announced Sunday that he is willing to pursue legal action against President Donald Trump after his security clearance was revoked.

Brennan on NBC’s “Meet the Press” told Chuck Todd that he had “been contacted by a number of lawyers” who have given advice on the basis for complaint or an injunction to try to “prevent Trump from doing this in the future.”

The White House announced Wednesday that it was revoking Brennan’s clearance and reviewing the clearance of a number of other former officials. The act has been seen as the White House trying to silence those who have opposed the president and his policies.

Politico

Bolton wants to see ‘seriousness’ from North Korea on denuclearization

White House national security adviser John Bolton said Sunday that he wants to see “seriousness” from North Korea on potential denuclearization.

Bolton said on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” that getting North Korea to denuclearize remains the “highest priority” for the U.S.

“I think it’s important that they demonstrate seriousness,” he said.

The Hill

Speechwriter who attended conference with white nationalists in 2016 leaves White House

A speechwriter for President Donald Trump who attended a conference frequented by white nationalists has left the White House.

CNN’s KFile reached out to the White House last week about Darren Beattie, a policy aide and speechwriter, who was listed as speaking at the 2016 H.L. Mencken Club Conference.

The Mencken Club, which is named for the early 20th century journalist and satirist whose posthumously published diaries revealed racist views, is a small annual conference started in 2008 and regularly attended by well-known white nationalists such as Richard Spencer. The schedule for the 2016 conference listed panels and speeches by white nationalist Peter Brimelow and two writers, John Derbyshire and Robert Weissberg, who were both fired in 2012 from the conservative magazine National Review for espousing racist views.

CNN

Trump warnings grow from forgotten Republicans

The ranks of forgotten Republicans are growing.
Some were forced out, such as Tim Pawlenty, a former two-term Minnesota governor who lost this week’s bid for a political comeback. Some, such as the retiring Republican Sen. Bob Corker, chose to leave on their own. Others still serve, but with a muted voice.

Whether members of Congress, governors or state party leaders, they are struggling to fit into President Donald Trump’s Republican Party.

The expanding list of marginalized GOP leaders underscores how thoroughly Trump has dominated — and changed — the Republican Party in the nearly two years since he seized the presidency. The overwhelming majority of elected officials, candidates and rank-and-file voters now follow the president with extraordinary loyalty, even if he strays far from the values and traditions many know and love.

The Republicans left behind are warning their party with increasing urgency, though it’s unclear whether anyone’s listening.

AP

Bolton: Chinese, Iranian, North Korean election meddling ‘a sufficient national security concern’

Chinese, Iranian and North Korean attempts to meddle in the 2018 US elections are, like Russia’s efforts, “a sufficient national security concern,” White House national security adviser John Bolton said Sunday.

“I can say definitively that it’s a sufficient national security concern about Chinese meddling, Iranian meddling and North Korean meddling that we’re taking steps to try and prevent it,” Bolton said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”

When asked by Martha Raddatz about President Donald Trump’s statement on Twitter Saturday morning that those focused on Russian meddling “should start also looking in another direction, China,” Bolton said “all four of those countries” are a concern.

CNN

A Sunday Bonus Note From The “Jesus Does NOT Approve, Dude” As Well As The “How DARE You” File

Uganda police arrest US citizen after viral video shows attack on hotel workers

Police in Uganda said they arrested a U.S. citizen this week after reviewing video that appeared to show him physically attacking hotel employees.

Video of the incident was posted on Facebook and shows a man, identified as Taylor, striking hotel workers and telling them to obey his orders. 

The clip begins with Taylor jumping over the reception desk and knocking what appear to be glass items off of tables. He later comes to the hotel lobby where he is seen hitting one of the employees and accusing them of hating Jesus.

“F–k Uganda,” Taylor says in the video. “I’ve come to love Uganda, I’ve come to help Uganda, but Uganda hates Jesus through this son-of-a-bitch.

The Hill

Fair warning, this video is infuriating and contains offensive language…