Breaking: Package Bombs in Austin Texas

Ken AshfordBreaking News, CrimeLeave a Comment

This morning, a package exploded inside of an Austin home, killing a teenager and wounding a woman. The woman is expected to survive. Austin police believe the explosion was linked to a similar bombing on March 2, when a 39-year-old man was killed when a package exploded.  All the victims were black. As this news was coming out, yet a THIRD … Read More

Breaking: Shots Fired At Yountvile (Napa Valley, California) Veterans’ Home; Hostages Taken

Ken AshfordBreaking News, Crime, Gun Control, Military IssuesLeave a Comment

Here we go again: The time of those tweets (2:18 pm, 2:16 pm, and 2:04 pm) are EST (my time), but it is 3 hours earlier in California where this is taking place. Here are the early details: YOUNTVILLE (KRON) – The Veterans Home of California Yountville is on lock down Friday morning after reports of an active shooter who is holding 3 … Read More

Ken AshfordCrime, Cybersecurity, Election 2018, Science & Technology, Wiretapping & SurveillanceLeave a Comment

This is torn from the blog of John Bambenek, a security analyst and Republican candidate for Illinois State Senate, about his conversations with Guccifer 2.0 (G2).  The post is entitled MY CONVERSATIONS WITH GUCCIFER 2.0 & THE SURPRISING ELECTION INFLUENCE OPERATIONS. As attention turns to threats facing 2018’s midterm elections, we’re learning hard lessons from what went down in 2016. (Plus, … Read More

The Porn Star Sues The President

Ken AshfordCourts/Law, Stormy Daniels & Karen McDougal Affairs, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Wow. The first thing that jumps out at me is this: if you’re going to contest a nondisclosure agreement in court, you should be filing with the court under seal so the NDA isn’t breached unless/until the plaintiff—the person subject to the NDA—prevails in court. Avenatti (Stormy Daniel’s lawyer) didn’t do this and I am sure it was intentional. Because … Read More

Unauthorized Use Of Presidential Seal Is Illegal

Ken AshfordCrime, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

In recent weeks, the Trump Organization has ordered the manufacture of new tee markers for golf courses that are emblazoned with the seal of the president of the United States. Under federal law, the seal’s use is permitted only for official government business. Misuse can be a crime under 18 U.S. Code § 713. Past administrations have policed usage vigilantly. … Read More

The NRA Owns Trump

Ken AshfordGun Control, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

I praised Trump — I really did — on Facebook two days ago for his televised meeting with Congressional leaders. He actually took some reasonable pro-gun stances, like universal background checks, and “red flag” restraining orders (which would allow police to take guns from people who are believed to be violent or mentally unstable).  But that was Trump, that day. … Read More

The Wild West Of The West Wing

Ken AshfordBreaking News, Corporate Greed, Crime, L'Affaire Russe, Occupy Wall Street, Republicans, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

It is the first day of March 2018. I wrote a lot of posts yesterday, and I didn’t even it HALF of the things going on. The breaking news that would be major scandals in any other White House. It was insane. Here’s what happened JUST YESTERDAY: Hope Hicks — without question, the aide (family aside) with whom Trump is closest … Read More

Breaking: Another School Shooting (Guaranteed To Make NRA Heads Explode)

Ken AshfordEducation, Gun ControlLeave a Comment

Well, NOW what’s the solution??? From The Daily Beast: Police in Dalton, Georgia say an adult is in custody after reports of shots fired at a high school. The suspect barricaded themselves inside a classroom, police said, and investigators believe the suspect is a teacher. No students were injured. The incident comes days after President Trump called for arming teachers … Read More

Trump Spent An Hour This Morning Watching Sunday Morning News Shows And Tweeting Angrily

Ken AshfordGun Control, L'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Nervous much? The WITCH HUNT one is my favorite. It’s just so raw. Maybe he’s unhinged, or maybe it’s a distraction from this, reported by CNN’s White House correspondent: Trump appears to be backing away from his support for 21 year age limit for assault weapons purchases, sources tell us tonight. — Jim Acosta (@Acosta) February 27, 2018 Anyway, it’s … Read More

Is The NRA In Bed With Russia?

Ken AshfordGun Control, L'Affaire Russe, RussiaLeave a Comment

Earlier this month, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) issued a pair of letters demanding information on any financial links between the NRA and Moscow, or between the NRA and Russian nationals. The questions came after McClatchy reported: January 18, 2018 05:00 AM  WASHINGTON — The FBI is investigating whether a top Russian banker with ties to the Kremlin illegally funneled money to the National Rifle … Read More

All Politics Is Local

Ken AshfordEducation, Gun ControlLeave a Comment

How is Trump’s “Arm The Teachers” solution playing across the states? Not well for the most part: The State (South Carolina): “SC politician giving guns to teachers in message to ‘deranged psychotic degenerates.’” Greenville News (South Carolina): GOP “Governor candidate Catherine Templeton calls for arming teachers while opening campaign.” News & Observer (North Carolina): “NC education chief says more cops … Read More

Washington State Governor Calls Out Trump On His Stupid Armed Teachers Idea (and Tweeting)

Ken AshfordGun Control, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

President and Armchair Warrior Trump writes a script of what he THINKS — without talking to experts or the people effected. He gets taken down, and he doesn’t like it (arms folded) Armchair Warrior, you ask… Why yes. Trump: I would have run into the school with no weapon https://t.co/UZadMQzY34 pic.twitter.com/Jp6BBmA7TV — Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) February 26, 2018

Oh I Do NOT Like How This Sounds

Ken AshfordCybersecurity, Voter Suppression & Voter SecurityLeave a Comment

Reuters Exclusive: WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The head of a federal agency who has helped U.S. states protect election systems from possible cyber attacks by Russia or others is being removed from his post by Republican House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan and the White House. Matthew Masterson, currently chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and a former Ohio state … Read More

Yes, NRA Spokeswoman Dana Leosch Lied To Stoneman Douglas Student Emma Gonzalez

Ken AshfordGun ControlLeave a Comment

Emma Gonzalez, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, had a simple question for National Rifle Association (NRA) national spokesperson Dana Loesch during CNN’s gun violence town hall: “Do you believe that it should be harder to obtain the semi-automatic … weapons and the modifications for these weapons to make them fully automatic, like bump stocks?” Instead of providing … Read More