The House Just Gave Trump a Big Win on Tax Reform

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The GOP has inched one step closer to enacting monumental tax reform.

By a vote of 227 to 203, House Republicans passed an updated version of their comprehensive tax legislation, also known as the the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Bucking their party, 12 Republicans voted against the bill. These GOP members mostly hailed from high-tax states and are concerned with rollbacks of state and local tax deductions.

As predicted, no Democrat voted in favor of the legislation.

Tuesday’s vote marks the second time in a month House Republicans passed tax reform — the lower chamber approved a tax bill in November, but their version was markedly different than the Senate’s version that was passed in early December.

Because a uniform bill was needed, Republican House and Senate leaders met in conference committee and reached a compromise on identical measures to be passed in both chambers of Congress.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is a sweeping reform of the U.S. tax code, calling for slashes in rates for the majority of Americans and a simplification of the system.

The bill will deliver $1.5 trillion in tax cuts over a span of ten years, cut the corporate rate to from 35 percent to 21 percent and lower individual tax rates.

Multinational companies would also see a completely revamped tax system — including a one-time tax on foreign profits that have been earned, but kept overseas to avoid U.S. taxes, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Notably, the bill repeals the individual mandate to purchase health care, an unpopular provision in Obamacare that requires every American to purchase health insurance or else pay a fine.

With the House vote out of the way, the Senate is expected to act on the bill later in the evening, according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

While most are certain Senate Republicans have the numbers to send the bill to President Donald Trump’s desk, the vote is expected to be razor thin.

Currently, the Senate Republicans hold a slim 52-48 majority in the Senate. During the last tax vote, the GOP only endured one defector, Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, who joined Democrats in voting against the bill.

While Corker has now announced support for the updated bill, Senate Republicans are still in a somewhat precarious situation. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz, who is battling brain cancer, revealed he will be in his home state to seek medical care and be with his family during the tax vote, leaving Republicans with one less body.

The other Republican senator from Arizona, Jeff Flake, has yet to say if he will vote for the bill or not.

Nevertheless, Senate Republicans appeared to be good position after Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a very moderate member of the GOP, announced her support. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio — who had previously said he was against the bill, citing a desire to see child tax credits expanded — switched to a “yes” after negotiators met him halfway.

Vice President Mike Pence postponed a scheduled trip to the Middle East in case he is needed in the Senate to cast a tie-breaking vote.

President Donald Trump has asked that the bill be passed in both chambers and sent to his desk for signature by Christmas — a goal that looks very likely to come to fruition. (For more from the author of “The House Just Gave Trump a Big Win on Tax Reform the House Just Gave Trump a Big Win on Tax Reform” please click HERE)

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What’s Going on in Cuba? US Embassy Workers Found to Have Brain Abnormalities

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By Nicole Darrah. Brain abnormalities have been found in the U.S. diplomats who were victims of suspected attacks at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, according to a new report.

Doctors discovered that white matter in the brains of Embassy workers had “developed changes,” The Associated Press reported. White matter allows different areas of the brain to communicate.

At least 24 U.S. Embassy officials in Cuba had reported hearing loud, grating noises before experiencing ear issues, hearing loss, dizziness, headache, fatigue, cognitive issues and difficulty sleeping.

Some victims knew immediately that the attack was affecting their bodies, while some developed physical symptoms within 24 hours.

Other Americans who were not working but were traveling in Cuba had also reported experiencing weird symptoms similar to those that the U.S. officials reported, the State Department said. (Read more from “What’s Going on in Cuba? US Embassy Workers Found to Have Brain Abnormalities” HERE)

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Mysterious Cuba Embassy Attacks Left Victims With Brain Anomalies

By Avery Thompson. Back in September, a strange mystery was unfolding in Cuba. American officials and their spouses were experiencing some kind of attack, but nobody was really sure what was going on. People experienced a wide range of symptoms, from headaches and difficulty concentrating to hearing loss and brain damage. Many reported hearing high-pitched, painful noises prior to experiencing the symptoms.

Medical experts have been unable to explain what kind of weapon is affecting these officials, or even what’s wrong with them. But new results from doctors at the University of Miami and the University of Pennsylvania have provided a valuable clue: The victims appear to have abnormalities in their brains’ white matter.

White matter refers to the sections of the brain filled with dense nerve connections, which are primarily responsible for learning and higher brain functions. Doctors often see white matter damage when people suffer concussions or other brain damage, which likely means the victims are suffering something similar. (Read more from “Mysterious Cuba Embassy Attacks Left Victims With Brain Anomalies” HERE)

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VA Hired Doctors With Malpractice Claims, Felony Convictions Against Them

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Neurosurgeon John Henry Schneider racked up more than a dozen malpractice claims and settlements in two states, including cases alleging he made surgical mistakes that left patients maimed, paralyzed or dead.

He was accused of costing one patient bladder and bowel control after placing spinal screws incorrectly, he allegedly left another paralyzed from the waist down after placing a device improperly in his spinal canal. The state of Wyoming revoked his medical license after another surgical patient died.

Schneider then applied for a job earlier this year at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. He was forthright in his application about the license revocation and other malpractice troubles.

But the VA hired him anyway . . .

A VA hospital in Oklahoma knowingly hired a psychiatrist previously sanctioned for sexual misconduct who went on to sleep with a VA patient, according to internal documents. A Louisiana VA clinic hired a psychologist with felony convictions. The VA ended up firing him after they determined he was a “direct threat to others” and the VA’s mission. (Read more from “VA Hired Doctors With Malpractice Claims, Felony Convictions Against Them” HERE)

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Cop Adopts Homeless Mother’s Opioid-Addicted Newborn

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. . .In the body camera footage, Ryan [Holet] questions Champ [addicted mother] and her companion for almost 11 minutes. He focused on Champ and tried to figure out whether she fully understood the danger drug use was inflicting on her unborn child . . .

In the course of the conversation, Champ emotionally told Ryan that she desperately hoped someone would adopt her baby. Champ says the words triggered a change in the officer’s demeanor . . .

Ryan showed Champ a picture of his wife and four children, including a 10-month old baby and in that moment offered to adopt her baby . . .

Ryan walked up to his wife, who was holding their 10-month old baby, and said he had just met a pregnant woman who was shooting up heroin and that he offered to adopt the baby. (Read more from “Cop Adopts Homeless Mother’s Opioid-Addicted Newborn” HERE)

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So, What About Joe Scarborough’s Dead Intern…

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Shortly after NBC unleashed news of its firing of “The Today Show” anchor Matt Lauer, President Trump ripped into the left-leaning network and even called for MSNBC to fire Joe Scarborough based on an “unsolved mystery” surrounding the death of Scarborough’s intern in 2001.

Trump tweeted Wednesday morning: “So now that Matt Lauer is gone when will the Fake News practitioners at NBC be terminating the contract of [MSNBC President] Phil Griffin? And will they terminate low ratings Joe Scarborough based on the ‘unsolved mystery’ that took place in Florida years ago? Investigate!”

The president also urged the news media to “Check out Andy Lack’s past!” Lack, 70, is the chairman of NBC News and MSNBC.

On July 20, 2001, Scarborough was a Republican congressman who represented Florida when his 28-year-old intern, Lori Klausutis, turned up dead in his office . . .

According to the medical examiner, Klausutis, who had an abnormal heart rhythm, lost consciousness and fell in Scarborough’s office. She reportedly hit her head on a desk, which caused her death, the medical examiner said. Authorities said Klausutis had told people she wasn’t feeling well the day before she died. (Read more from “So, What About Joe Scarborough’s Dead Intern…” HERE)

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Muslim Population to Triple in Europe by 2050

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A revealing survey by Pew Research Center, ‘Europe’s Growing Muslim Population’, looks at the future of the 25.8 million Muslims currently residing in European countries. Citing a comprehensive swath of data, it is an attempt to see how the size of Europe’s Muslim population may change in the coming decades, depending on levels of migration.

All three scenarios – zero, moderate and high – considered by researchers produced a thought-provoking outcome: the number of Muslims in Europe will rise at any rate of migration, as they are younger and “have higher fertility (one child more per woman, on average) than other Europeans, mirroring a global pattern.”

Under a first, “zero migration” scenario, the Muslim population of Europe still would be expected to rise from the current level of 4.9 percent to 7.4 percent (roughly 36 million) by the year 2050 even “if all migration into Europe were to immediately and permanently stop.”

A second, “medium” migration scenario assumes that the flows of refugees stop, but “regular” migrants continue to come for reasons other than fleeing wars and instability. Under these conditions, Muslims could comprise 11.2 percent (59 million) of Europe’s population in 2050.

In a third, “high” migration scenario, the heavy influx of predominantly Muslim migrants recorded between 2014 and 2016 continues indefinitely. In this case, Muslims could make up 14 percent (75 million) of Europe’s population by 2050 – nearly triple the current figure. (Read more from “Muslim Population to Triple in Europe by 2050” HERE)

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Bill Clinton Should Have Resigned After Lewinsky Affair, New York Democrat Says

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Recent news about prominent men facing allegations of sexual misconduct apparently has some Democrats reassessing the presidency of Bill Clinton.

The second-guessers include at least one Democrat who has long been considered a Clinton supporter.

On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., asserted that, in retrospect, Clinton should have resigned from the presidency after the disclosure of his extramarital affair with intern Monica Lewinsky.

“Yes, I think that is the appropriate response,” Gillibrand told the New York Times, when asked if Clinton should have left the White House.

Gillibrand’s remarks were reported on the same day that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other prominent lawmakers from both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill called for U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., to face a Senate ethics investigation into his 2006 conduct with a Los Angeles radio host during a USO tour. (Read more from “Bill Clinton Should Have Resigned After Lewinsky Affair, New York Democrat Says” HERE)

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Christians Asking Is the Pope Still Catholic?

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Is the pope Catholic? . . .

It’s a question being asked about the current head of the Roman Catholic Church, Francis, who critics believe is showing signs of abandoning fundamental Catholic doctrines – including the existence of hell.

In a recent address, Pope Francis declared “everything will be saved” upon Christ’s return.

“The thought that at the end of our history there will be merciful Jesus suffices in order to have faith and not to curse life,” the pope said. “Everything will be saved. Everything.”

That would suggest the church is opening up to “universalism,” the doctrine that everyone will ultimately be given salvation, according to Eugenio Scalfari, founder of the Italian newspaper la Repubblica. (Read more from “Christians Asking Is the Pope Still Catholic?” HERE)

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President Trump’s Asia Trip Is What Actual Diplomacy Looks Like

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President Trump is taking the correct, diplomatic approach in refusing to take the time to publicly shame the leaders of U.S. partners and adversaries during his overseas trip.

While the president is traveling abroad on the tail end of his 14-day Asia trip, pundits across the political spectrum are taking shots at the commander in chief for what they deem is his unwillingness to stand up to authoritarian leaders.

From The New York Times, to prominent members of Congress, to National Review, to former Obama officials, the foreign policy “smart set” seems convinced that the president is not upholding his duty to stand up for American values while abroad.

They want him to declare, for the 1,000th time, that Russian President Vladimir Putin interfered in the American election. They want him to show up at Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s doorstep and proceed to berate him for his alleged human rights abuses. They’d like him to show up in Beijing and tell President Xi Jinping that he’s an illegitimate, two-bit thug.

This approach would not only fail to yield a positive outcome (unless you consider virtue signaling for cultural “elites” a good way to spend your political capital), it would in all likelihood damage America’s standing in the world.

Sure, Putin, Duterte, and Xi 100 percent do not represent American values. But it’s unclear what exactly these pundits think the president will achieve by having POTUS dress down and talk smack to foreign leaders on their own soil. What will it accomplish in the name of U.S. interests? Absolutely nothing.

Russia is most certainly an adversarial nation, but Moscow is not a lost cause entirely. Russia is a Great Power, and the U.S. maintains extensive cultural and economic ties with Russia. We also have many disagreements with Russia, including how they conduct their internal affairs, and how the Kremlin is known to commit human rights abuses.

However, there is no way that our relationship with Russia will change for the better if President Trump makes it his goal to consistently publicly shame and humiliate Vladimir Putin.

“But Reagan!” I hear some people already claiming.

But times were different back then. Ronald Reagan was leading the front for freedom in a global Cold War against the Soviet Union. Reagan was conducting his messaging as part of a grand strategy that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Today, It is not remotely in our interests whatsoever for President Trump to start unnecessary hostilities with Russia, or attempt to cause mass devastation in Moscow.

Now, to the Philippines.

The Philippines is an ally of the United States, and there is certainly nothing good that can come out of President Trump undermining the authority of its elected president.

President Duterte has undoubtedly made some concerning comments and implemented some abominable internal policies. But it’s much more likely that the U.S. can achieve a positive result for human rights by communicating our concerns through diplomatic channels, instead of destroying our relationship with the country’s leader, resulting in the severing of those channels.

Over to China.

According to the Chicago Tribune’s Dahleen Glanton, Trump “got played” because he refused to directly confront Chinese President Xi Jinping’s government. It’s true that China continues to take a more aggressive posture against U.S. interests in East Asia. It’s also true that anti-American sentiment continues to rise there.

China is also our biggest trading partner, and again, little good can come out of admonishing a foreign leader in his own country, other than scoring points with the professional pundit class back home.

Imagine if a foreign leader traveled to the United States and proceeded to do nothing but berate our way of life and our duly elected president. Outrage would likely ensue in both the press and in Congress. There would be calls to distance our relationship with that leader’s particular nation. Nothing good would come of it, for either side.

When President Trump comes home, he can (and should) say all he wants about the shortcomings of both allies and adversaries. As an invited guest of foreign nations, he is correct in understanding that he can achieve far more for the United States by acting in a diplomatic, civil manner, in attempts to find and highlight shared objectives with partner countries. (For more from the author of “President Trump’s Asia Trip Is What Actual Diplomacy Looks Like” please click HERE)

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U.S. Flags Turned Into KKK Hoods, Professor Calls It Art

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A professor has shaped three American flags into KKK hoods in what she’s proudly calling her latest work of art.

Billie Grace Lynn, an associate professor of sculpture at the University of Miami, has dubbed it “American Mask.”

“American Mask is a work suggesting that bigotry and racism are hiding behind our American flag,” Lynn writes on her personal website. “By using the shape of KKK hoods made from the American flags I point to our sad history of intolerance and violence and hope that the work acts to awaken citizens to the danger of confusing bigotry with patriotism.” . . .

“Almost as soon as American Mask was placed in the window, arguments began. Miami New Times is located in the same building as the gallery, and an employee posted a picture on Facebook. Dozens of commenters called it everything from ‘disgusting’ to ‘patriotic,’” the Miami New Times reports. (Read more from “U.S. Flags Turned Into KKK Hoods, Professor Calls It Art” HERE)

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