Avenatti pleads not guilty to trying to extort Nike

Lawyer Michael Avenatti pleaded not guilty to charges relating to an alleged attempt to extort footwear and clothing company Nike for millions.  Avenatti, who famously represented adult film actress Stormy Daniels in a case against President TrumpDonald John TrumpWhite House counsel didn’t take lead on Trump letter to Pelosi: reports Trump endorses Riggleman in Virginia […]

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Facebook bans 'black salve' user groups from the social media platform

Facebook has banned several groups that promote the use of a dangerous and illegitimate skin cancer treatment.  BuzzFeed News reported Tuesday that Facebook has banned groups that discuss black salve, which contains bloodroot and zinc chloride and allegedly eats away at skin. According to the news outlet, a small group of people claim that black salve can cure skin cancer, […]

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Armed Services chair calls defense bill 'most progressive in the history of the country' after criticism

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam SmithDavid (Adam) Adam SmithBombshell Afghanistan report bolsters calls for end to ‘forever wars’ Overnight Defense: Dems unveil impeachment articles against Trump | Saudi military flight students grounded after shooting | Defense bill takes heat from progressives | Pentagon watchdog to probe use of personnel on border Armed Services chair […]

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Grassley urges White House to help farmers in year-end tax talks

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck GrassleyCharles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyGrassley urges White House to help farmers in year-end tax talks The Hill’s Morning Report — Sponsored by AdvaMed — House panel delays impeachment vote until Friday The Hill’s Morning Report – Sponsored by AdvaMed – House panel expected to approve impeachment articles Thursday MORE (R-Iowa) on […]

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Key House Democrats question whether T-Mobile-Sprint merger went through 'appropriate process'

The Democratic chairmen of two key House committees are questioning whether the government flouted “appropriate” procedures when it recently approved the $26 billion merger between T-Mobile and Sprint, green-lighting one of the largest telecom deals in recent history.  House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerold Nadler (D-N.Y.) on Monday accused the […]

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House passes legislation banning government from buying Huawei equipment

The House on Monday passed legislation that would bar the government from buying telecommunications equipment from companies deemed to be national security threats, such as Chinese telecom giant Huawei.  The bipartisan Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, which passed the House unanimously, could get a vote in the Senate as soon as this week.  “Securing our networks […]

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Overnight Defense: Lawmakers unveil details on spending deal | Over $1.3B included for border barriers | Trump reportedly planning Afghanistan troop drawdown | US envoy dismisses North Korea's deadline

Happy Monday and welcome to Overnight Defense. I’m Rebecca Kheel, and here’s your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. CLICK HERE to subscribe to the newsletter.   THE TOPLINE: Lawmakers on Monday released the details of their fiscal 2020 spending deal after reaching an agreement last week. Of note, lawmakers have agreed to include $1.375 billion for physical […]

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US Forest Service allows mining company to write its own environmental analysis: report

New documents reveal that the Trump administration has let a mining company take on a major role in writing the environmental report that is key to getting its Idaho gold mine project government approval, the Idaho Statesman reports. According to documents obtained by Earthworks and reported by the Statesman, the U.S. Forest Service is allowing Canadian-based company Midas Gold […]

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