Cabbage News Network Week #41

Status of Puerto Rico infrastructure - it's been 44 days and the island is still 60% without power, that is over a million Americans.

Health care enrollment is now open.

Monday 10/30

• Mueller reveals charges against 3 former DJT campaign officials: campaign chairman Paul Manafort, Manafort's deputy Rick Gates, and foreign policy advisor George Papadopoulos. Papadopoulos's indictment was earlier and only revealed now after he entered into a plea agreement. Manafort and Gates turn themselves in. Charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States and money laundering $75 million, $18 million of that going to Manafort, $3 million to Gates. (source, text of the indictment).
  
  • An explanation of some of the legalese (though contrary to his prediction bail for Manafort has been set at $10 million)
    
  • Manafort's lawyer might testify against him (source).
    
  • Summary of who is under investigation
    
  • Further indictments likely, my own feeling is that Mueller is treating this like an organized crime investigation - start at the bottom rungs of the ladder and work your way up, offering those indicted plea deals to testify against their bosses.
    
  • Papadopoulos's plea indicates the DJT campaign knew the Russians had hacked the DNC before it became public knowledge (source).
    
  
  
• Judge issues a preemptive block of DJT's proposed ban of transgender people serving in the military (source)
  
• Puerto Rico cancels contract with Whitefish, shifts money to other contractors (source, contract under FBI investigation).
  
• Military starts censoring Afghan data (source).
  

Tuesday 10/31

• Exxon Mobil reaches $300 million settlement deal with EPA and Justice Dept. (source).
  
• Senate GOP in favor of removing deductions for state and local taxes (source).
  
• Papadopoulos's testimony implicates Sam Clovis who is DJT's current nominee for chief scientist of USDA - his confirmation hearing is scheduled for Nov. 9th (source) (as an aside, Sam Clovis is a horrible person) .
  
• Facebook, Google, and Twitter execs in congressional hearings over the Russians use of their services during the election (source).

Wednesday 11/1

• House passes bill gutting environmental protections on Forest Service land (I've seen nothing on this one in mainstream media, LCV sample letter opposing bill, bill text and history).

Thursday 11/2

• GOP unveil $1.5 trillion tax cut plan, mostly cuts for the wealthy and corporations, but some cuts for everyone, closes some loopholes, lots of changes to how deductions work. Chances of it actually passing are still sketchy. (source, source, breakdown of the major provisions).
  
• Jerome Powell likely new Fed chair (source and some analysis from WP).
  
• Steady stream of conservative judicial appointments are making it through Congress (source).
  
• Sam Clovis nomination is withdrawn (source).
  
• U.S. withdraws from oil and gas industry anti-corruption effort (source).

Friday 11/3

• Immigration changes targeting children (source).

Legislative action this week

• Legislation signed into law
  
  • Disaster relief for Puerto Rico https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2266
    
  • Bill expanding whistleblower protections https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s585
    
  
  
• Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
  
  
  
  • Bill protecting financial institutions from class action lawsuits https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hjres111
    
  • and 9 other minor bills
  
  
• Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate
  
  • Iran sanctions bill https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1698
    
  • Bill drastically reducing what activities on Forest Service, BLM, and Tribal lands require environmental review https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2936
    
  • Bill revoking passports of individuals affiliated with a terrorist organization https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr425
    
  • Bill eliminating the Independent Payment Advisory Board https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr849
    
  • Bill loosening reporting requirements for IPO's (essentially opening options that were for start-ups only to all companies) https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3903
    
  • Bill banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr36
    
  • Bill reauthorizing the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s782
    
  • Renewal of law promoting democracy in North Korea and helping North Korean refugees https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2061
    
  • Bill giving the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration authority over self driving cars https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3388
    
  • Bill restricting IRS use of civil asset forfeiture https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1843
    
  • Bill to allow publicly traded companies to use SEC crowdfunding rule https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2864
    
  • Authorization bill for CIA and other intelligence activities https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3180
    
  • DoD appropriations bill https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3219
    
  • Dept. of Interior appropriations https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3354
    
  • 312 other minor bills
  
  
• Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House
  
  • DoD Authorization bill for FY 2018 https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2810
    
  • 66 other minor bills
  
  
• Upcoming legislation
  
  • The GOP tax cut bill hasn't been formally introduced yet, but you can read the proposed text.
  
  
  Maps of the week
  
  Manafort's money laundering