Post Michael Cohen Raid, Is Trump Obligated to Act?

Federal prosecutors sought communications between Donald Trump and his lawyer, Michael Cohen, regarding efforts to prevent disclosure of the infamous “Hollywood Access” tape featuring Trump’s vulgar comments about women when FBI agents raided Cohen’s home and office on Monday. 

The specific reference to the president is the first known direct mention of the president in a search warrant, which was obtained by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and approved by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

The New York Times first reported that the FBI was searching for records related to the “Access Hollywood” tape and looking for evidence that Cohen attempted to suppress harmful material about Trump during the 2016 presidential election. Federal agents seized records on topics including a $130,000 payment that Cohen arranged to adult film actress Stormy Daniels Cohen before the election. 

Cohen's Midtown Manhattan office and a Park Avenue hotel room were both searched after prosecutors reportedly received a referral from FBI Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating alleged Russian collusion in the 2016 election.

Is a Strike on Syria Possible?

President Donald Trump cast doubt on Thursday over the timing of his threatened strike on Syria in response to a reported poison gas attack. France said it had proof of Syria’s guilt but needed to gather more information. 

Russian officials confirmed the 11 warships have left the Syrian port of Tartus as the U.S. and their allies prepare to strike. Vladimir Shamanov, who chairs the Russian defense committee of the lower house of parliament, confirmed the move. He said the vessels had left the Mediterranean base for their own safety. Pictures released today by Israeli satellite imaging firm ISI showed the Mediterranean dock had been totally emptied. Tartus is a base for warships being used by Russia as it supports dictator Bashar al-Assad throughout the Syrian Civil War. 

Russia condemned the U.S. for “militaristic” statements and said the world should seriously think about the “consequences of threats”. 

Break-Up of California Moves a Step Closer as Billionaire Gets Enough Signatures to Trigger Vote

The chance of California splitting into three states has moved a step closer after billionaire Tim Draper secured enough signatures to trigger a referendum on the issue. There would be three separate states: Northern California, Southern California, and California. This move to separate California is backed by billionaire Tim Draper.The three sections of the state will be divided as: Northern California, which would contain Sacramento and San Francisco, California (the coastal region), which would contain Los Angeles and Southern California, which would contain San Diego. The three California’s would have roughly equivalent populations and wealth. 

Tim Draper who made his money through Hotmail and Skype, has gathered 600,000 signatures supporting the change. This is many more than the 364,000 that were needed. 

Those who are in favor of the break-up of California believe it would boost educational standards and reduce the political power of Sacramento, the state’s capital.

Tim Draper has met with Britain’s Nigel Farage, who along with Arron Banks led the “Brexit” movement. Tim Draper and Nigel Farage are said to have met just weeks before the Brexit vote on June 23, 2016, when 51.9 percent of British citizens voted to leave the European Union. 

If the plan is approved by voters, it would still need to be okayed by Congress. Even if voters got behind it, the state Legislature would have to approve it, and then the U.S. Congress, which would have to be convinced to let blue California add four additional senators. 

‘Dismantle Whiteness’ Mural Installed at USC

A mural intended to spark conversation and to “challenge racism, sexism and xenophobia” was installed on the University of Southern California campus this week. The mural said, "Dismantle Whiteness And Misogyny On This Campus.” The mural was installed outside the entrance to the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism building at the University of Southern California. The project was created by the feminist artistic collective When Women Disrupt along with students from the USC course, “Women: Designing Media for Social Change.”

The Annenberg school described this art installation as a “conversation about the institutionalized and everyday systems of power and representation that reinforce racism, patriarchy, and inequity.” The women in the group, "Women: Designing Media for Social Change” have a tour through New Mexico, Arizona and California planned from May 22 through June 5 in which they'll install additional posters on xenophobia and misogyny.  

Penn State Eliminates Homecoming 'King,' 'Queen' Titles

The students in charge of Homecoming festivities at Pennsylvania State University have decided to eliminate the “gendered” titled of “King” and “Queen”. The Homecoming Court will now honor two students with the “Guide State Forward Award.” The Homecoming and Royalty Committees will also eliminate the male to female ratio court representation in “an effort to embrace more diversity and gender inclusivity.” Ten representatives will now be chosen regardless of gender. 

At the bottom of the Collegian’s article, there is a poll to gauge the public opinion regarding the change at Penn State. The results showed that out of 459 respondents, only 121 readers agree with elimination of the titled “King” and “Queen”, while 338 readers disagree with the change.

PM Video Submission:

Dave Shopp, WICKLIFFE, OH: Hi Bill, since the play Hamilton is on national tour I was wondering why we’re not using its popularity to talk up the Federalist Papers more. You know those essays that Hamilton and Madison wrote that explained why the federal government has final say in thing like immigration. Now a day you have anti-federalist like the governor of Illinois, the governor of California, who is acting more like George Wallace, the mayor of Oakland, who warned her community, “the feds are coming”, and the mayor of Cincinnati, who is in Hamilton county, who wants sanctuary for illegal aliens. How do you think we could better educate our community and the urchins about the complete story of Hamilton, the Federalist papers, and the cause of the Civil War that ended up killing Lincoln?

Mail Time!

• Thank you for having Holly on your podcast today ‐ such an extra
treat! I have two Pembroke corgis and I love them dearly.
I want you to know that I am most grateful for the work you and
your staff put together each day. It's so refreshing to get the truth
and an unbiased opinion about what's really going on in our country. You and your family and the people on your staff are in my prayers. Thank you again for the great work that you so.

• One question Bill- Do you think our country is in the middle of, or in danger of a silent coup?

• Hey Bill, I'm just wondering if you're reconsidering your view that Mueller is nonpartisan after the recent shift of his investigation from Russia to the porn star and your discussion with Jerome Corsi yesterday. I recall that you changed your view about Comey after first believing that he was a straight shooter.

Word of the Day: Unctuous