WTF Just Happened Today

Thursday, July 25, 2019

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1/ Following Robert Mueller's testimony and warnings about Russia's continued attempts to interfere in U.S. elections, Senate Republicans blocked two election security bills and a cybersecurity measure. Democrats attempted to pass two bills by unanimous consent on Wednesday that would require campaigns to notify the FBI and the FEC if they receive offers of assistance from foreign governments. The other bill would let the Senate Sergeant at Arms offer voluntary cyber assistance for the personal devices and accounts of lawmakers and their staff. Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith blocked all three of the bills without giving any reason for her objections or indicating whether she blocked the bills on behalf of herself or the GOP caucus. Mueller testified yesterday that "The Russian government's effort to interfere in our election is among the most serious" and that "it wasn't a single attempt. They're doing it as we sit here. And they expect to do it during the next campaign." (The Hill / CNN)

2/ Mitch McConnell blocked the two election security measures on Thursday, arguing that Democrats are trying to give themselves a "political benefit." McConnell called the House-passed legislation "so partisan it received just one Republican vote over in the House," adding that the election security legislation is being pushed by the same Democrats who pushed the "conspiracy theory" of Trump and Russia. (The Hill / CNN)

3/ The Senate Intelligence Committee found that "the Russian government directed extensive activity, beginning in at least 2014 and carrying into at least 2017, against U.S. election infrastructure at the state and local level," according to the committee's report on Russian interference. The report recommends that Congress provide additional funding for states to secure elections once the $380 million appropriated in 2018 is spent. (NPR / Bloomberg / Axios / The Hill)

4/ The House Oversight and Reform Committee authorized subpoenas for senior White House aides official work communications sent via personal email and cellphone. The White House refused to turn over the messages voluntarily earlier this month. Democrats have raised questions about whether Jared Kushner's WhatsApp communications with foreign officials, Ivanka Trump's use of a private email account to conduct official business, and Stephen Bannon's use of a personal mobile device for White House business violated the Presidential Records Act. (Politico / Washington Post /