Date: April 13, 2018
Host: Jim Schneider
Listen: MP3 | Order
The following is a sample of news stories that Jim brought to the attention of listeners this week on Crosstalk:
–President Trump puts Syria military strike on hold while considering options.
–Russia has moved at least 11 navy ships deployed in Syria out to sea in the
event of a U.S. military strike.
–A U.S. guided missile destroyer, the U.S.S. Donald Cook, is already in position
off the coast of Syria with 75 Tomahawk missiles on board.
–British Prime Minister Theresa May is willing to join military action against
Syria even without the consent of Parliament.
–A non-governmental watchdog agency protested the appointment of Syria as chair
of the U.N. Conference on Disarmament, a forum on chemical weapons that will be
held next month.
–Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg gave testimony before the Senate Judiciary and
Commerce Committees. Jim aired a portion of that which contained questions from
Senator Ted Cruz.
–Facebook threatened the Voice of Europe for criticizing migration.
–Ann Ravel, the former Democratic chair of the Federal Election Commission, who
controversially pushed to regulate the Internet during her time leading the
commission, is now suggesting that a new government enforcement agency be
established to help tech companies discover questionable communications from
social media sites in order to find alleged disinformation campaigns.
–President Trump judicial nominee Wendy Vitter’s personal pro-life views were
under scrutiny from several Democratic senators at her Wednesday
confirmation hearing.
–House Speaker Paul Ryan announced that he will retire from Congress when his
present term is finished.
–President Trump pardoned Scooter Libby, the former aid to Vice President Dick
Cheney.
–Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein personally approved the FBI raid on
President Trump’s attorney Michael Cohen.
–Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey lectured CIA Director Mike Pompeo who is a
Secretary of State nominee.
–The Counsel on American/Islamic Relations (CAIR) thanked Senator Booker for
confronting Pompeo for his views on Islam. However, they were silent
concerning his views on homosexuality.
–The President of China cuts import tariffs on cars and opened China’s markets
wider in response to President Trump’s tough trade rhetoric.
–President Trump signed an executive order aimed at welfare reform.
–President Trump is forming a task force to look at the viability and operations
of the United States Postal Service.
–Newly installed National Security Advisor John Bolton cleaned house during his
first week at the job.
–EPA Chief Scott Pruitt received several death threats during the first few
months of his tenure at the agency.
–Florida Governor Rick Scott announced that he’ll challenge Senator Bill Nelson
setting up a battle that will help decide which party controls the U.S. Senate.
