O'Reilly on the Rob Porter White House Scandal, the Border Wall Debate, and a Sanctuary City for Pot in California
February 14, 2018


Kelly Increasingly Isolated as Porter Scandal Rages On

White House chief of staff John Kelly is defending the handling of former White House staff secretary Rob Porter, who resigned last week after media reports revealed allegations by his ex-wives that he abused them. Kelly has come under fire for his handling of the matter and initial statement of support for Porter. 

On Tuesday during a Senate Intel Committee hearing, FBI Director Chris Wray offered information about Porter's security clearance process that conflicted with the White House's stated timeline. Kelly said "no" when asked if the White House should have handled the scandal differently. 

CNN previously reported Kelly and other White House officials were aware of allegations against Porter for months, and that Porter was one of many top White House staffers who operated without a permanent security clearance. 

According to a Politico report on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders arranged an off-the-record meeting in the West Wing with Porter and four reporters. The meeting was in response to the release of a photograph of Porter’s first ex-wife with a black eye. The reporters who were at the White House meeting were The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman, The Washington Post’s Josh Dawsey, Axios’ Jonathan Swan and The Wall Street Journal’s Michael Bender. In that meeting, Porter relayed his version of events and fielded questions from the group.

The White House declined to comment on Porter’s meeting with reporters, including whether Kelly was aware it took place.

 

Latest on the Immigration Debate

On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pledged an open and fair floor debate on immigration, with every proposal getting its chance to earn the 60 votes that would allow it to pass the Senate. The debate that promised to be freewheeling and democratic instead got off to a rocky start, with Democrats and Republicans in a standoff over how the debate should proceed.

To kick the debate off, McConnell proposed allowing Republicans to bring up an amendment targeting cities that don’t fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities, so-called “sanctuary cities.” Then, Democrats would bring up legislation of their choosing. Amendments gaining 60 votes would become part of the broader immigration bill. The Senate’s top Democrat, Chuck Schumer of New York, quickly objected. “To begin the debate as the Republican leader suggests would be getting off on the wrong foot,” Schumer said. “Very partisan.” 

The Senate voted Wednesday to open the debate on immigration legislation. However, there is no set plan yet, because the two sides have been fighting over what proposals will be voted on and in what order. 

President Trump’s aides are now apparently telling reporters that he won’t sign any bill that isn’t his proposed framework, even though Republican senators have said that his immigration plan can’t get the three-fifths majority needed. 

In a meeting with sheriffs at the White House on Tuesday, Trump continued to frame the debate in a way that depicts many of the illegal immigrants seeking to enter the U.S. as dangerous criminals. 

“We’re asking Congress to support our immigration policy that keeps terrorists, drug dealers, criminals and gang members out of our country. We want them out. We don’t want them in and right now we’re working on DACA, we’re working on immigration bills and we’re making them tough,” Trump said. 

McConnell told reporters that if Congress does not pass a bill by the Presidents Day recess, which begins Saturday, the chamber will move on to other issues. 

“We have other things to do,” he told reporters after a Republican policy lunch Tuesday. “This is an issue we’ve been talking about literally for years,” he added, noting that GOP negotiators have recently “spent three months talking to the Democrats about this.” 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York also supported completing work this week.

Two of the Main Immigration Proposals are:

Senator Grassley’s plan, which is aligned with Trump’s wishes, would provide a path to citizenship for 1.8 million undocumented immigrants who came to the country as children, allow $25 billion to fund a southern border wall, and eliminate the diversity visa lottery program.

The other plan is a bipartisan agreement between Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Dick Durbin (D-IL). It would offer legal status and eventual citizenship to the 1.8 million young unauthorized immigrants, about a year’s worth of funding for a border wall, and the elimination of the diversity visa lottery.

 

Berkeley Becomes Sanctuary City for Marijuana

On Tuesday, February 13, Berkeley, California, declared itself a sanctuary city for marijuana use. The resolution was proposed by Berkeley Mayor, Jesse Arreguin, and City Councilmembers, Ben Barlett and Cheryl Davila. 

The Berkley City Council voted unanimously to become a sanctuary city for legal adult-use marijuana. The resolution designates the area as a sanctuary city for cannabis customers, businesses, providers and landlords. This prohibits city agencies and employees from assisting in enforcing federal marijuana laws and share information on legal cannabis activities. 

Jeff Sessions issued a marijuana enforcement memo in January, formally rescinding the Obama administration’s guidance, which enabled states to legalize marijuana without federal intervention. His one-page memo made it clear that marijuana possession and distribution is against federal law, and U.S. attorneys should approach these cases as they do all other cases when enforcing them.

 

Total U.S. Household Debt Soars to Record Above $13 Trillion

Total household debt rose to an all-time high of $13.15 trillion at the end of 2017. The household debt rose $193 billion from the previous quarter.

Mortgage debt balances rose the most in the December quarter. The debt is now at $8.88 trillion. 

Credit card debt had the second largest increase of $26 billion bringing the total to $834 billion in the U.S. 

The report said it was the fifth consecutive year of annual household debt growth with increases in the following:Mortgage rising by 1.6 percent, student loans rising by 1.5 percent, auto loans rising by 0.7 percent, and credit card debt rising by 3.2 percent.

 

Olympic Update:

Latest Medal Count:

#1: Germany- 12 medals overall (7 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze medals).

#2: Netherlands- 11 medals overall (5 gold, 4 silver, and 2 bronze medals).

#3: Norway- 11 medals overall (3 gold, 5 silver, and 3 bronze medals).

#4: Canada- 10 medals overall (3 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze medals).

#5: United States- 10 medals overall (4 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze medals).

 

NBC's Olympics Audience Drops 6%, and Network Declares Victory

NBC is attracting approximately 24 million viewers a night to its Winter Olympics coverage. The flagship NBC network is drawing 22 million viewers a night and an additional 2 million are tuning in to cable and online programming. 

That number is down about 6 percent from the winter games four years ago in Sochi, Russia. Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBC Broadcasting and Sports, said the network expected a decline in viewership and calibrated its audience promises accordingly. NBC has sold more than $900 million in ads so far and expects its telecast to be profitable.

 

Olympic Hockey Info:

The Olympic Men’s hockey tournament started today. The first game was between the United States and Slovenia and unfortunately, the U.S. lost 3-2 in overtime. The next U.S. game will air Thursday during primetime. 

Team USA is led by former Buffalo Sabres Captain Brian Gionta and a trio of young forwards. Troy Terry (University of Denver), Jordan Greenway (Boston University), and Ryan Donato (Harvard). The rest of the team consists of AHL veterans, various players from the European leagues and former NHL players. 

Last year, the NHL decided the hardship of shutting down the league in midseason isn’t worth the exposure value of being at the Olympic Games, therefore, no current NHL players are allowed to participate. However, most of the European leagues are taking a break to accommodate players who are competing in the Olympics.  

Currently, The Russian team, which is officially being called Olympic Athletes from Russia as part of the IOC’s punishment for doping violations, is considered the favorite to win the gold medal.  

The gold medal game is set for Monday, February 25, local time in Pyeongchang, but it’ll actually air on Sunday, February 24, in the United States. 

 

Mail Time!

  • Bill, in regards to your opinion that Mexico is cracking down on migrant smuggling because they are afraid of the President, I have an alternate view: note the migrants were from Central America, NOT Mexico. I believe Mexico is letting Mexicans migrate, in fact they may be encouraging them, in order to increase potential "remittances" sent back to Mexico to prop up their economy and corrupt leaders. With the immigration fix imminent, they need to get as many "patriotic citizens" in place before the border slams shut and their source of funding dries up.
  • Bill, I agree with you about watching the Olympics, there just not cutting it. I think it’s because I loved them when ABC aired them, you saw every gold medal award ceremony no matter who won. NBC seems to only focus on a few medal ceremonies. I love to watch all the winners and hear their anthem when they win, that’s what it’s all about, the experience of every athlete enjoying the moment.
  • Hi Bill, I love your podcast, it's very informative just like all your shows have been through the years. I have a non-political question, I'm a huge baseball fan and I was wondering what the significance of the three baseballs on your shelf is? One looks very old.

 

Word of the Day: Pettifogger 

Click here to read this week's staff column: "Gold Medals in Hatred."

Posted by Bill O'Reilly at 4:00 PM
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O'Reilly on the Rob Porter White House Scandal, the Border Wall Debate, and a Sanctuary City for Pot in California
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