Trending 4-16-2018
LAST WEEK AT 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE
The week started with a suspected chemical attack on Syria after 48 people died last weekend in Douma. President Trump condemned the attack and blamed the Syrian regime and Russian President Vladimir Putin for his support of Syria. Russia immediately called it all a hoax. Trump promised a “big price to pay” for the attack.
FBI agents raided the office, home, and hotel of Michael Cohen, President Trump’s longtime personal attorney. Trump did not hide his anger. He was not having it! Once details became clearer of what they were into and how they got the warrant to seize Cohen’s files, records, and even his smartphone, Trump unleashed his outrage. Documents and records seized, were related to, among other things, the payment to Stormy Daniels. Trump went after Attorney General Jeff Sessions, again, pondered firing Robert Mueller, trashed the FBI and his Justice Department. Somehow Trump see’s the whole thing, “as an attack on our country” he says.
President Donald Trump considered firing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein following the raid of his attorney Michael Cohen’s office. Doing so could potentially further his goal of putting greater limits on special counsel Robert Mueller. Rosenstein is his most likely target, but would his firing be enough to satisfy the President?
In light of the Syrian crisis, Trump scrapped his trip to South America. The White House said he canceled it to "oversee the American response to Syria." And then the move was made. A coalition of Western nations formed in response to last weekend’s suspected chemical attack in Syria that killed dozens. UK Prime Minister Theresa May said her government was ready to join the US. The French say they were ready to join too. President Trump suggested, airstrikes were imminent, then walked that back a bit. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad warned the West to stay out of it.
President Trump on Friday night announced he has directed the U.S. military, in coordination with France and the United Kingdom, to conduct precision strikes in Syria. This was in response to the chemical weapons attack that left dozens dead on Sunday, as Trump said he would do. Trump claimed the U.S. is "prepared to sustain" a response to curtail Syria until the Syrian regime stops using chemical weapons on its citizens, warning this might not be the last use of military capabilities in Syria. "We are prepared to sustain this response until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents," Trump said. He also called out Iran and Russia, for their part in enabling Syria to carry out such an action. The Pentagon said the strikes took place at 9 p.m. EST. What’s ahead?
Yet another shoe dropped on the White House, or returned, James Comey and his memoir. The fired FBI director just
ARRESTED FOR #HAVINGCOFFEWHILEBLACK?
The viral video of two black men being arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks has elicited very different responses from the company, the community, and the police. The video posted to Twitter on Thursday, according to CNN was that of Melissa DePino. In it, two black men are seen being escorted out of the coffee shop in handcuffs. Customers can be seen and heard telling officers that the men did nothing wrong.
DePino said in her Tweet, “The police were called because these men hadn’t ordered anything. They were waiting for a friend to show up, who did as they were taken out in handcuffs for doing nothing.” Police insist they did nothing wrong. Police Commissioner Richard Ross defended his officers. They received a complaint of trespassing from a Starbucks employee. Employees told officers the two men wanted to use the restrooms but they were told they were only for paying customers and then asked them to leave. Ross says his officers did a service that they were called to do.
Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson called the incident “reprehensible” saying the company would take measures to help prevent such an occurrence from ever happening again. “Starbucks stands firmly against discrimination or racial profiling,” Johnson said. He is said to be on his way to Philadelphia to meet the men.
Members of Black Lives Matter PA held a demonstration at the Starbucks of the incident on Sunday. It started outside, then moved inside to confront the manager. Philadelphia mayor, Jim Kenney, said that Starbuck’s apology “is not enough.” He added he is “heartbroken to see Philadelphia in the headlines for an incident like that,” he says it “appears to exemplify what racial discrimination looks like in 2018.”
BEYONCE SLAYED AND HATCHED “BEYCHELLA”
Queen Beyoncé took over the main stage last night at Coachella and left nothing undone. Headlining the festival for the first time, she brought it! It was an extravaganza for everyone including, a Destiny’s Child reunion, a dance-off with sister Solange and a surprise appearance from her loving husband Jay-Z.
Destiny’s Child reunites and it was looking and feeling good to all in attendance. Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams did a three three-song medley, including “Lose My Breath,” “Say My Name,” and “Soldier.”
Beyonce (with a little help from some friends) delivers stunning performance at Coachella - JOE.ie
Then the sister act dance-off with Solonge. In spite of having a backing crew of 100 dancers, Beyoncé had room for one more: Solange. Her sister joined Bey for a dance-off during the extended version of “Get Me Bodied” to show them how it’s done.
Not on the run, “ORT2” this week, Jay-Z also made a surprise appearance. The two gave fans a preview of “On the Run Tour2”, coming out on stage and performing “Déjà Vu”.