Ex-Trump Aide Manafort Faces Charges in First Trial of Russia Probe

The first trial of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe begins on Tuesday with Paul Manafort, a former chairman of U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign. Manafort is facing charges that he hid tens of millions of dollars earned in Ukraine in offshore accounts and defrauded banks for loans. Prosecutors also accuse him of lying to U.S. banks to obtain real estate loans in a bid to maintain a lavish lifestyle after his client, former pro-Russia Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, fell from power in 2014 and the money stopped. Manafort has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. T.S. Ellis, the judge overseeing the case, has called a hearing for Tuesday at 9 a.m. on whether that Ukraine-related evidence can be included. That will be followed by voir dire, the process of vetting jurors for bias at 10 a.m.

 

Is the World Laughing at Our Immigration Laws?

President Trump said that the rest of the world is “laughing at the stupidity of our immigration laws,” a reprimand that came after threatening a government shutdown in September if Congress doesn’t include substantial border security funding in an upcoming spending package. “Illegal immigration is a top National Security problem. After decades of playing games, with the whole World laughing at the stupidity of our immigration laws, and with Democrats thinking......that Open Borders, large scale Crime, and abolishing ICE is good for them, we must get smart and finally do what must be done for the Safety and Security of our Country!” Trump wrote in a series of tweets Monday evening. Trump echoed similar sentiments earlier in the day after he met with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. "As far as the border is concerned, and personally, if we don’t get border security, after many, many years of talk within the United States, I would have no problem doing a shutdown. It’s time we had proper border security. We’re the laughing stock ... we have the worst immigration laws anywhere in the world," he said.

Bob Woodward is Writing an Inside Account of the Trump White House

The next writer to take a close look at the Trump presidency, Bob Woodward. The celebrated journalist of Watergate fame has written "Fear: Trump in the White House," Simon & Schuster announced Monday. The book is coming out Sept. 11. According to the publisher, Woodward is drawing on "hundreds of hours" of interviews, along with notes, files and diaries to evoke the "harrowing life" within the White House. "Fear" also renews a Woodward tradition that had been on hold for several years: a book about the sitting president, released during an election year.

Trump Says He Would 'Certainly Meet' with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani

President Trump said he would "certainly meet" with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani if the Iranian leader was willing, adding he would do it with "no preconditions." During a joint news conference with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Trump said that he believes in meetings and pointed to the benefits of recent meetings with North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin. The Trump administration withdrew from the landmark nuclear accord with Iran in May, saying it was too generous to Iran. The United States has vowed to boost sanctions until Iran changes its regional policies, including its support for regional militant groups.

Chicagoans Want Mayor Rahm Emanuel to Resign

Activists are calling on Chicago’s Democratic Mayor Rahm Emanuel to resign ahead of a massive protest scheduled for this week. Protesters are planning to walk along Lake Shore Drive during Thursday’s rush hour, on the first day of the Lollapalooza music festival, and end up at Wrigley Field during a Chicago Cubs game. Rev. Gregory Livingston and other organizers for the march against violence reportedly went to City Hill on Monday to tell Emanuel not to vocalize his support because they’re asking for him to resign. “The call of the people is ‘Resign Rahm,’” Livingston told The Chicago Tribune. “So how, then, can you back your own regime change? How do you sanction your own termination? How dumb, naive and self-hating do you think we are?” The Tribune reported that the group is calling for Emanuel and Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson to step down in the face of the city's failure to stem its gang- and police-related bloodshed.

Lebron James Blasts Donald Trump for 'Using Sport to Divide' the Country

On Monday, the three-time NBA champion, Lebron James, opened his I Promise School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, before then discussing sports and politics in a wide-ranging interview with CNN anchor Don Lemon. “We are in a position right now in America […] where this race thing has taken over,” James said. “Because I believe our president is kind of trying to divide us. What I've noticed over the past few months [is] he's kinda used sports to kinda divide us, and that's something that I can't relate to." The interview was not the first time LeBron has made his feelings known about President Trump. Ahead of the NBA Finals, the James claimed that regardless of who won the NBA title, neither the Cleveland Cavaliers nor the Golden State Warriors would’ve accepted an invitation to visit the White House.

Trump 2020 Banner Displayed by Fans at Yankee Stadium

Several fans at a New York Yankees baseball game held up a giant “Re-elect Trump 2020” banner. While the scene was met with some “boos” from the crowd, it also elicited cheers and whistles. The banner also had Trump’s re-election slogan “Keep America Great” printed on it. Politics and sports have intersected in recent months, especially since the NFL and President Trump have been at odds regarding national anthem protests.

Tweets You Might Have Missed!

@RealDonaldTrump, July 31: “One of the reasons we need Great Border Security is that Mexico’s murder rate in 2017 increased by 27% to 31,174 people killed, a record! The Democrats want Open Borders. I want Maximum Border Security and respect for ICE and our great Law Enforcement Professionals!”

@RealDonaldTrump, July 30: “A highly respected Federal judge today stated that the “Trump Administration gets great credit” for reuniting illegal families. Thank you, and please look at the previous administrations record - not good!”

@IvankaTrump, July 30, “Tomorrow I will join @POTUS & @FLGovScott in Florida as we affirm our support of America’s workers through GREATER access to training + apprenticeships. Excited to announce the job creators + employers who answered @POTUS call to action & are signing our #PledgetoAmericasWorkers!”

@KingJames, July 29, “big dreams for the kids in Akron to give them everything they could need to find their passion, give back to our community and change the world!! This school is that. The people are that. Akron is that. @LJFamFoundation we've always done it big”