Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is facing bipartisan calls to resign after he appeared in a recent batch of files linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. read more
Close the cover on the CIA World Factbook: The spy agency announced Wednesday that after more than 60 years, it is shuttering the popular reference manual. read more
"More and more leads, more and more information, and more and more commentary in the global press all relate to the suspicion that this unprecedented paedophilia scandal was co-organised by Russian intelligence services," [Poland Prime Minister Donald] Tusk said. "I don't need to tell you how serious the increasingly likely possibility that Russian intelligence services co-organised this operation is for the security of the Polish state. "This can only mean that they also possess compromising materials against many leaders still active today." read more
Israel's military has accepted that around 70,000 Palestinians were killed during the war in Gaza, after having earlier cast doubt on death tolls reported by the enclave's health officials, Israeli media reported on Friday citing senior military officials. read more
Trump administration border czar Tom Homan will head to Minnesota to manage U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's on-the-ground operations there in the wake of Alex Pretti's killing by federal agents in Minneapolis, President Donald Trump and the White House said Monday. read more
TWINPAC
I'm pretty sure the behind-the-scenes horror show at the White House these days rivals this one from the instructive Downfall (youtu.be). With Rip Taylor revivified to play the lead.
Leni Riefenstahl's Triumph of the Will (1935) garners an 84/71 critics/audience score on Rotten Tomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com).
TWINPAC
I've found it helpful sometimes to recall that among Trump's bankruptcies are these, breaking-out casinos:
1991: Trump Taj Mahal (Atlantic City)
1992: Trump Castle (Atlantic City)
1992: Trump Plaza Hotel (Atlantic City)
2004: Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts
2009& 2014: Trump Entertainment Resorts
Seems odd, until you read this:
"But even as his companies did poorly, Mr. Trump did well. He put up little of his own money,
shifted personal debts to the casinos and collected millions of dollars in salary, bonuses and other
payments. The burden of his failures fell on investors and others who had bet on his business
acumen."
How Donald Trump Bankrupted His Atlantic City Casinos, but Still Earned Millions
By Russ Buettner and Charles V. Bagli
June 11, 2016
www.nytimes.com
Quick search: a federal grand jury has between 16-23 jurors, of whom at least 12 must vote in favor of the indictment for it to be issued (www.law.cornell.edu).