L’amour est dans le pré : la “zigounette de Roland” fait le buzz sur Twitter

La nouvelle saison de L’amour est dans le pré réserve son lot de surprises. Lors de l’émission de speed-dating du lundi 3 juillet, l’un des agriculteurs a provoqué l’hilarité des téléspectateurs. Un véritable buzz, sans doute bien malgré lui…

Il s’appelle Roland et il a 60 ans. Le doyen de cette nouvelle saison de L’amour est dans le pré a déjà crée le buzz sur les réseaux sociaux. L’agriculteur, éleveur de vaches allaitantes en Auvergne, recherche une femme douce, sportive mais aussi un peu coquine. En effet, lors du troisième prime de speed-dating, Roland n’a pas tardé à émettre quelques idées d’occupations avec sa future compagne : « Un peu d’activité sportive, de l’activité sentimentale et de la zigounette », a-t-il lancé avant de poursuivre : « Si tu t’en sers pas un peu, après ça ne fonctionne plus, mieux tu t’en sers, moins ça s’use. Bon pas tous les jours, le dimanche c’est jour de repos, on n’en fera pas. » Une séquence qui a visiblement surpris les téléspectateurs.

Même Karine Le Marchand n’a pas hésité à souligner le naturel de Roland quelque peu déconcertant : « La zigounette de Roland… quelle rigolade, il est fantastique », a-t-elle écrit sur son compte Twitter. Et l’animatrice n’est pas la seule à avoir commenté son franc-parler : « L’amour est dans le pré, cette émission fascinante où un homme de 60 ans parle de zigounette dans un speed-dating », peut-on lire. « D’habitude on les voit préparer leur maison, j’espère qu’on ne va pas voir Roland préparer sa zigounette », a ajouté une autre internaute. Avec sa personnalité haute en couleur, Roland devrait encore surprendre les téléspectateurs. Michelle et Christiane, ses deux prétendantes, ne sont visiblement pas au bout de leurs surprises.

Crédit photos – M6

Dow drops after US airstrike on Iranian general

The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged Friday morning in response to the U.S. killing of Iran’s top military commander, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, in Baghdad.

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The Dow fell more than 360 points at the open, though it then cut its losses and was down around 200 points, CNBC reports.

U.S. crude oil futures jumped about 3.5 percent to $63.31 per barrel. 

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“Global oil markets will be volatile for weeks to come,” Greg Valliere, chief U.S. policy strategist at AGF Investments, told the network.

“There’s a reason, finally, for caution in the stock market,” he added.

The Cboe Volatility Index, considered to be the best gauge of fear on Wall Street, rose about 2 points to 14.77.

Defense stocks also saw an uptick, with Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon all going up.

Graham says he warned Trump against targeting Iranian culture sites

Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamPentagon chief says US will ‘follow the laws of armed conflict’ after Trump’s Iran threats Overnight Defense: Washington returns to Iran crisis | Defense chief denies US troops leaving Iraq | House sets vote on Iran war powers | Bolton willing to testify in impeachment trial Graham says he warned Trump against targeting Iranian culture sites MORE (R-S.C.) said on Monday that he warned President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump offers Australian PM assistance in fighting widespread fires Trump administration officials begin drafting potential Iraq sanctions after Trump threat: report Pence to focus on US Iran policy in speech MORE against targeting Iranian cultural sites — a step the president has repeatedly threatened if Iran retaliates over the death of a top general killed in a U.S. strike. 

“I talked to him today. I said we’re not at war with the culture of the Iranian people. … Cultural sites, religious sites are not lawful targets,” Graham said. 

“Putting cultural sites on the table as a military target, I think, undercuts what we’re trying to do,” Graham added, recounting his conversation with Trump. 

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The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about the conversation. 

The talk came a day after Trump doubled down on his threat to target Iranian cultural heritage sites, asserting to a group of reporters that the U.S. had the right to strike them.

“They’re allowed to torture and maim our people. They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we’re not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn’t work that way,” Trump told reporters on Sunday.

In separate tweets on Saturday, Trump threatened to attack sites “at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture” should Iranian-backed forces strike U.S. civilians or military targets in the Middle East in retaliation for the death of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Quds Force.

“Iran has been nothing but problems for many years,” Trump tweeted on Saturday. “Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have targeted 52 Iranian sites… some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!”

The threat has sparked backlash from top Iranian officials, who warned it would violate international law.

“Having committed grave breaches of int’l law in Friday’s cowardly assassinations, @realdonaldtrump threatens to commit again new breaches of JUS COGENS,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted. “Targeting cultural sites is a WAR CRIME.”

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Border Patrol denies claims of order to detain Iranian Americans

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials released a statement Sunday evening denying reports circulating on social media claiming Iranian Americans were being detained by CBP authorities at a border crossing in Blaine, Wash.

“Social media posts that CBP is detaining Iranian-Americans and refusing their entry into the U.S. because of their country of origin are false,” CBP spokesman Mike Friel said in a statement.

“Reports that DHS/CBP has issued a related directive are also false,” he added.

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A CBP official confirmed that border crossings have been subjected to increased security measures as a standard response to the increased threat environment caused by heightened tensions with Iran and stressed that longer wait times were an unintended consequence for some travelers.

A viral statement from a spokeswoman for Believers Bail Out, a group that provides financial support to incarcerated Muslim Americans, circulated on Twitter Sunday afternoon saying that CBP officials had detained dozens of Iranian Americans at the Blaine checkpoint as part of a supposed new order from the Trump administration.

The claim was spread by a number of prominent Twitter accounts and at least two House Democrats, Reps. Pramila JayapalPramila JayapalBorder Patrol denies claims of order to detain Iranian Americans Democrats worry impeachment acquittal will embolden Trump Jayapal criticizes Indian official for refusing to meet her: It’s ‘a sign of weakness’ MORE (D-Wash.) and Barbara LeeBarbara Jean LeeBorder Patrol denies claims of order to detain Iranian Americans Omar, Lee introduce House resolution preventing US military action against Iran not authorized by Congress Rep. Barbara Lee married in New Year’s Eve ceremony MORE (D-Calif.).

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Texas judge rules that hospital can remove baby from life support

A Texas judge ruled Thursday that a Fort Worth hospital can remove an 11-month-old baby from life support, though the child’s mother reportedly plans to appeal the decision.

Judge Sandee Bryan Marion of the Tarrant County district court sided with Cook Children’s Medical Center that Tinslee Lewis’s life-sustaining treatments should end after doctors said the infant is in pain and will not get better, The Associated Press reported.

Texas Right to Life has advocated for Trinity Lewis, Tinslee’s mother, as she sought a temporary injunction. The group, which opposes abortion, said she will appeal the judge’s decision.

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“I feel frustrated because anyone in that courtroom would want more time just like I do if Tinslee were their baby,” Lewis said in a statement. “I hope that we can keep fighting through an appeal to protect Tinslee. She deserves the right to live.”

The hospital had planned to take Tinslee off life support on Nov. 10, after enforcing Texas’s “10-day rule” that allows providers to stop treatment if the hospital’s ethics committee agrees with the doctors that care should cease, even if the family disagrees. Treatment can be ended after 10 days if a new provider can’t be found to take on the patient.

Cook Children’s Medical Center officials said they contacted more than 20 facilities as potential new providers, but all of them declined.

“Today’s decision from Chief Justice Sandee B. Marion restores the ability of the Cook Children’s medical staff to make the most compassionate and medically appropriate decisions for Tinslee as she struggles in pain to survive each day,” the hospital said in a statement. “This is an emotional and difficult situation for everyone involved, especially for this family who had high hopes that Tinslee would get better.”

Tinslee was born prematurely and hasn’t left the hospital. She has a heart defect, chronic lung disease and severe chronic high blood pressure. She has used a ventilator since July and needs respiratory and cardiac support, deep sedation and medical paralyzation. 

Both sides agreed that the hospital would wait at least seven days until discontinuing life support in order to give Trinity Lewis enough time to file an appeal and a motion for emergency relief.

Updated at 3:22 p.m.

Public health advocates outraged by Trump's limited vaping ban

Public health groups are outraged by President TrumpDonald John TrumpGolden Globes host Ricky Gervais to celebs: Don’t get political Trump says he’ll sanction Iraq if US troops forced to leave Trump doubles down on threat to Iran cultural sites MORE‘s limited vaping ban, arguing the new policy is short-sighted and will not stop a surge in youth vaping.

Health advocates are also accusing the president of bowing to political interests in an election year.

The administration’s decision, announced Thursday, is a major reversal from its promise in September to completely ban the sale of most e-cigarette flavors. The move also came after an intense pressure campaign by the vaping industry.

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The administration now says it will strip the market of popular fruit and mint pod-based flavors found in closed pod cartridges that are popular with young people. Tobacco and menthol flavors will be exempt.

Open tank systems, which are commonly found in vaping shops and not as popular with young people, will also be exempt from the policy, even though they use flavored “e-liquids.”

The policy was intended to be a compromise between warring factions in the White House, but public health groups and anti-tobacco advocates greeted the announcement with anger and dismay.

“The guidance could have been a meaningful victory for children’s health and instead is a major missed opportunity that will still leave young people at risk for addiction,” American Academy of Pediatrics President Sally Goza said in a statement.

“The bottom line is that children are at nearly the same level of risk now as they were before this guidance came out, and that is a shame,” she added.

Goza, along with representatives of other groups like the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, all noted that teens who vape mint or fruit flavors will soon shift to menthol pods if they are available.

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“Menthol is a derivative of mint, and there is little difference between these flavors,” Gary Reedy, CEO of the American Cancer Society, said in a statement.

“With mint and menthol already being some of the most popular flavor choices among youth users, there’s reason to believe the popularity of menthol will only continue to rise,” Reedy said.

“Kids using mint before will use menthol tomorrow,” said Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “Decades of experience with menthol cigarettes demonstrate that menthol appeals to kids … there is no public health justification for allowing continued sales of menthol e-cigarettes.”

The administration’s updated policy comes after White House officials tried to find a balance between advisers pushing for a comprehensive ban and campaign officials warning that any type of ban would have negative political consequences.

In September, Trump was joined by first lady Melania TrumpMelania TrumpPublic health advocates outraged by Trump’s limited vaping ban Michelle Obama is ‘most admired woman’ in new poll Navy SEALs who turned in Gallagher: He is ‘freaking evil’ MORE and top health officials in announcing their intent to rid the market of every flavor of e-cigarettes except for tobacco.

But a short while later, the vaping industry aligned with free market conservative groups like Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) to launch a lobbying barrage against the ban, called “We Vape, We Vote.”

ATR circulated a poll, commissioned by a vaping industry group and conducted by Trump pollster John McLaughlin, that showed voters in battleground states would oppose Trump’s reelection if he went forward with the ban.

The groups ran television ads on Fox stations and in the Palm Beach Post during Trump’s recent stay at Mar-a-Lago, urging the president not to follow through with a flavor ban.

Trump wavered for months but ultimately decided on the partial ban.

In trying to please both camps, experts said Trump has at best kept the status quo. At worst, they said, he has given tobacco companies a green light to target kids.

Scott Gottlieb, Trump’s former head of the Food and Drug Administration, tweeted that the new policy will have only a “negligible” effect, and will give an advantage to market leading manufacturer Juul, which has already pulled most of its flavored pods from the market.

Juul now sells only tobacco and menthol flavors in the U.S.   

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According to Gottlieb, companies like NJOY and Vuse will be forced to play catchup. When their products are removed from the market, those manufacturers will likely lose customers to Juul, which has higher nicotine content and a sleeker device that’s more popular with younger consumers.

Gottlieb said the measure in the year-end spending bill to ban sales of any tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21 is now the best way to curb youth vaping.

Scott Schlesinger, a Florida attorney who has sued Juul for targeting young people, said because Juul is now run by executives from tobacco giant Altria, it will still easily be able to target teens.

Two years ago, Altria invested nearly $13 billion in Juul for a 35 percent stake in the company. In October, Juul appointed a longtime Altria executive as its CEO in a bid to rebuild its image. The company has also suspended U.S. advertising.

“This is one of the most powerful companies in the country. Their executives were put in at Juul, and they are doing all they can to come out on top,” Schlesinger said. “They didn’t spend $12 billion that they are walking away from… As long as they have menthol, they’ll be able to catch kids.”

Trump says he'll sanction Iraq if US troops forced to leave

President TrumpDonald John TrumpGolden Globes host Ricky Gervais to celebs: Don’t get political Trump says he’ll sanction Iraq if US troops forced to leave Trump doubles down on threat to Iran cultural sites MORE said Sunday that the United States would not leave Iraq on “friendly” terms and threatened to impose sanctions on the country if forced to withdraw American troops.

“If they do ask us to leave, if we don’t do it in a very friendly basis, we will charge them sanctions like they’ve never seen before ever. It’ll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday afternoon when asked about the vote by Iraq’s parliament to end U.S. troop presence in the country.

“If there’s any hostility, that they do anything we think is inappropriate, we are going to put sanctions on Iraq, very big sanctions on Iraq,” Trump added.

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Trump made the remarks to reporters while traveling from Palm Beach, Fla., to Washington, D.C., after a two-week stint at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

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Earlier Sunday, the Iraqi parliament voted in favor of a resolution calling on the country’s government to work toward ending U.S. troop presence there after a U.S. airstrike killed a top Iranian general in the capital of Baghdad. American forces have maintained a presence in Iraq since 2014 as part of the operation targeting ISIS.

The bill is subject to approval by the Iraqi government.

Trump also at one point Sunday suggested that American forces wouldn’t leave Iraq unless the country paid the U.S. back for its “expensive air base” there, an apparent reference to the Al Asad Air Base.

“We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that’s there. It cost billions of dollars to build. Long before my time,” Trump said. “We’re not leaving unless they pay us back for it.”

The Iraqi parliament vote on Sunday was among a number of developments in the wake of the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who commanded Iran’s Quds Force. U.S. officials have described the strike as a defensive measure meant to halt planned attacks on Americans; Soleimani is said to have been responsible for attacks that killed hundreds of American troops over the years.

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The strike came amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran in the region, following the death of an American contractor in a rocket attack in Iraq that Washington blamed on Tehran.

Iran has vowed retaliation for Soleimani’s death. Trump, meanwhile, has threatened to hit Iranian sites if Tehran strikes Americans or U.S. assets in response, including threatening to hit Iranian cultural sites. Some have argued that attacking a cultural site could be considered a war crime.

“They’re allowed to kill our people,” Trump told reporters Sunday evening. “They’re allowed to torture and maim our people. They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we’re not allowed to touch their cultural site?”

“It doesn’t work that way,” Trump said. 

IRS announces tax-filing season start date of Jan. 27

The IRS announced Monday that it will start accepting and processing people’s tax returns for 2019 on Jan. 27.

The deadline for people to file their returns will be the traditional due date of April 15, the agency said.

The late-January start date for the filing season is similar to the start dates of the filing seasons in the previous two years. The IRS said it expects more than 150 million individual tax returns to be filed for the 2019 tax year.

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“The IRS and the nation’s tax community are committed to making this another smooth filing season,” IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig said in a news release.

The IRS said that it chose the Jan. 27 start date to ensure that its processing systems are ready and secure as well as to take into account recent tax legislation.

Legislation to fund the government that Congress passed last month extended a number of tax breaks that expired in 2017 or 2018 or had been set to expire at the end of 2019. One of the key tax provisions for individuals that was extended was a provision that allows more taxpayers to be eligible for the medical expense deduction. A lower threshold for the deduction had expired at the end of 2018 but now is extended through 2020.

This year will be the second tax-filing season that reflects many of the tax code changes made by President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump offers Australian PM assistance in fighting widespread fires Trump administration officials begin drafting potential Iraq sanctions after Trump threat: report Pence to focus on US Iran policy in speech MORE‘s 2017 tax cut law as well as guidance on tax withholding from people’s paychecks that was issued after the law’s enactment.

Tax preparers said last year that their clients had heightened levels of anxiety during the filing season because they were unsure of how they were going to shake out under the law.

Much attention was paid last year to people’s tax refunds, which reflect the amount that people overpaid in taxes throughout the year. The percentage of taxpayers who received refunds and the average refund amount were fairly similar in 2019 and 2018. However, everyone’s individual tax situation is different, so some people received significantly bigger refunds last year, while others went from receiving a refund in 2018 to having a balance due to the IRS in 2019.

The IRS had encouraged taxpayers who unexpectedly had a balance due to the agency last year to use its online calculator and adjust the amount of taxes withheld from their paychecks.

Tax refunds do not reflect whether someone got a tax cut under Trump’s 2017 law. In the near term, most households are expected to have a smaller tax liability than they would have had the law not been enacted. 

Overnight Defense: Washington returns to Iran crisis | Defense chief denies US troops leaving Iraq | House sets vote on Iran war powers | Bolton willing to testify in impeachment trial

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: The holiday break is over, and lawmakers and officials are returning to town with a new Iran crisis unfolding.

To recap: In December, the United States blamed a rocket attack in Iraq that killed a U.S. contractor on an Iran-backed militia and responded with strikes on the militia. Supporters of the militia then stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Days later, the U.S. military killed Iranian Quds Forces leader Gen. Qassem Soleimani in an airstrike at the Baghdad International Airport, and Iran and the United States are now trading escalating threats of retaliation.

With the possibility of Iranian retaliation high, the House is set to vote this week on a war powers resolution aimed at limiting Trump’s military actions toward Iran.

“As Members of Congress, our first responsibility is to keep the American people safe,” House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiFacebook to issue rules banning deepfakes: report Rand Paul: Trump ‘got bad advice’ on killing of Soleimani Bolton shakes up impeachment debate MORE (D-Calif.) wrote in a letter announcing the resolution. “For this reason, we are concerned that the Administration took this action without the consultation of Congress and without respect for Congress’s war powers granted to it by the Constitution.”

In the upper chamber: Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerPelosi on Bolton saying he’d testify: Trump, McConnell ‘have run out of excuses’ Election experts urge Trump, congressional leaders to end stalemate at FEC Kellyanne Conway accuses Trump critics of ‘hero worship’ for Soleimani MORE (D-N.Y.) said Monday the chamber will have to vote on a resolution limiting Trump’s ability to take military action against Iran.

Schumer, speaking from the Senate floor, noted Sen. Tim KaineTimothy (Tim) Michael KaineRand Paul: Trump ‘got bad advice’ on killing of Soleimani Overnight Defense: Washington returns to Iran crisis | Defense chief denies US troops leaving Iraq | House sets vote on Iran war powers | Bolton willing to testify in impeachment trial Schumer: Senate must vote on resolution limiting Trump on Iran MORE (D-Va.) had introduced a war powers resolution that would require Trump to withdraw U.S. troops from hostilities against Iran within 30 days without congressional signoff.

“That resolution will be privileged, so it will have to come to the floor,” Schumer said. “My colleagues, we’re going to vote on it.”

Kaine can force a vote on the Senate floor 10 days after his resolution was introduced. Both the House and the Senate resolution need a simple majority to make it to Trump’s desk, where they would likely face a veto.

In Iraq: Confusion was the watchword in Iraq on Monday, as a letter circulated online suggesting U.S. troops would withdraw, followed by denials from the Pentagon.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told reporters the letter — which said U.S. troops were preparing for “onward movement” — was a draft that should not have been released.

“That letter is a draft, it was a mistake, it was unsigned, it should not have been released,” Milley told reporters in an off-camera briefing. “Poorly worded, implies withdrawal. That’s not what’s happening.”

Defense Secretary Mark EsperMark EsperTrump administration officials begin drafting potential Iraq sanctions after Trump threat: report Pence to focus on US Iran policy in speech Pentagon chief says US will ‘follow the laws of armed conflict’ after Trump’s Iran threats MORE also denied U.S. troops would withdraw from Iraq.

On Sunday, the Iraqi parliament approved a resolution to terminate the agreement that allows for U.S. troops in the country.

The resolution was nonbinding and subject to approval from the Iraqi government. But outgoing Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi had urged his country’s parliament to end the foreign troop presence in his country.

And in nuclear news: Iran announced Sunday it would no longer adhere to limits on uranium enrichment set by the 2015 nuclear deal.

Still, Iran left open the possibility of returning to compliance with the deal if it gets sanctions relief. And it did not kick out international nuclear inspectors.

Trump responded to the news Monday by tweeting “IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!”

Backlash on cultural sites: Trump’s threat to target cultural sites in Iran has sparked outrage, with legal experts arguing the president would likely be violating international law if he took such a step.

Top aides have tiptoed around the president’s statements, saying the administration would act lawfully and that Trump wasn’t definitively saying that he would target Iranian cultural sites if Tehran escalates the current situation. Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamPentagon chief says US will ‘follow the laws of armed conflict’ after Trump’s Iran threats Overnight Defense: Washington returns to Iran crisis | Defense chief denies US troops leaving Iraq | House sets vote on Iran war powers | Bolton willing to testify in impeachment trial Graham says he warned Trump against targeting Iranian culture sites MORE (R-S.C.), a top ally of Trump on Capitol Hill, said Monday he raised concerns with Trump about the remarks on a phone call.

“Cultural sites, religious sites are not lawful targets under the law of war unless they’ve been weaponized by the enemy,” Graham told reporters. “Putting cultural sites on the table as a military target, I think, undercuts what we’re trying to do.”

On Monday, White House counselor Kellyanne ConwayKellyanne Elizabeth ConwayTrump risks nuclear crisis in Iran Overnight Defense: Washington returns to Iran crisis | Defense chief denies US troops leaving Iraq | House sets vote on Iran war powers | Bolton willing to testify in impeachment trial Trump remarks on striking cultural sites in Iran provoke outrage MORE also told reporters that Iran has “many” strategic military sites that could also be considered cultural sites.

“The president has identified those sites and has said that it may happen if Iran retaliates in a certain way,” Conway said. “You have the president on the record. You have to read the entire thing.”

 

IMPEACHMENT LATEST: Lawmakers also return to town with Trump’s impeachment still an ongoing concern.

In the latest twist, former national security adviser John BoltonJohn BoltonRand Paul: Trump ‘got bad advice’ on killing of Soleimani Trump risks nuclear crisis in Iran Bolton shakes up impeachment debate MORE said Monday he would testify in a Senate impeachment trial if subpoenaed.

“The House has concluded its Constitutional responsibility by adopting Articles of Impeachment related to the Ukraine matter. It now falls to the Senate to fulfill its Constitutional obligation to try impeachments, and it does not appear possible that a final judicial resolution of the still-unanswered Constitutional questions can be obtained before the Senate acts,” Bolton, who was ousted by Trump last September, said in a statement.

“I have had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study. I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify,” Bolton said.

Bolton had previously said that he needed a judge to resolve whether a senior Trump adviser could be compelled to testify before Congress, and as a result did not appear before the House, as requested, in connection with the impeachment inquiry.

His former deputy, Charles Kupperman, had filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to decide whether he should obey a congressional subpoena for his testimony, but the case was declared moot at the end of last month.

Schumer’s response: Schumer quickly seized on Bolton’s decision to testify if subpoenaed, arguing on Monday that it puts new pressure on Republicans to support calling witnesses.

“Momentum for uncovering the truth in a Senate trial continues. John Bolton correctly acknowledged that he needs to comply with a Senate subpoena to compel his testimony, if issued. It is now up to four Senate Republicans to support bringing in Mr. Bolton, and the other three witnesses, as well as the key documents we have requested to ensure all the evidence is presented at the onset of a Senate trial,” Schumer said in a statement.

“Given that Mr. Bolton’s lawyers have stated he has new relevant information to share, if any Senate Republican opposes issuing subpoenas to the four witnesses and documents we have requested they would make absolutely clear they are participating in a cover up,” Schumer added.

Bolton is one of four witnesses that Senate Democrats want to call as part of Trump’s impeachment trial.

Romney wants to hear from Bolton: Sen. Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyBolton shakes up impeachment debate McConnell has the votes to block Democrats’ witness demands in Trump impeachment trial Murkowski: Decision on impeachment witnesses should wait until after start of trial MORE (R-Utah) said Monday he wants to hear from Bolton, becoming the first GOP senator to specifically say so after Bolton’s morning statement.

Romney told reporters at the Capitol that he wants to hear from Bolton and find out “what he knows” about Trump’s dealings with Ukraine.

“I would like to be able to hear from John Bolton. What the process is to make that happen, I don’t have an answer for you,” he added.

Romney did not indicate if he thinks there needs to be a deal on hearing from Bolton at the outset of the trial, saying Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellBolton shakes up impeachment debate McConnell has the votes to block Democrats’ witness demands in Trump impeachment trial Murkowski: Decision on impeachment witnesses should wait until after start of trial MORE (R-Ky.) and Schumer are still working on trying to get a deal on the rules.

Bolton is one of four witnesses that Senate Democrats want to call as part of Trump’s trial. They’ll need four Republicans to support their efforts if they are going to successfully subpoena him.

Pelosi’s response: Pelosi said in a tweet that Trump and McConnell have “run out of excuses” and that the Republican-controlled Senate must seek Bolton’s testimony about the Trump administration’s contacts with Ukraine.

“They must allow key witnesses to testify, and produce the documents Trump has blocked, so Americans can see the facts for themselves. The Senate cannot be complicit in the President’s cover-up,” the Speaker added using the hashtag “#DefendOurDemocracy.”

 

ON TAP FOR TOMORROW

The Atlantic Council will host a conversation with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at 10:15 a.m. https://bit.ly/39JsOWH

 

ICYMI

— The Hill: US Africa Command identifies soldier killed in al-Shabaab attack in Kenya

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— The Hill: Esper’s chief of staff to depart at end of January

— The Hill: Poll: 43 percent approve of Trump strike on Soleimani

— The Hill: Joe KennedyJoseph (Joe) Patrick KennedyTrump and Pelosi clash over Iran, impeachment Overnight Defense: Washington returns to Iran crisis | Defense chief denies US troops leaving Iraq | House sets vote on Iran war powers | Bolton willing to testify in impeachment trial Joe Kennedy presses for war authorization repeal vote following Soleimani strike MORE presses for war authorization repeal vote following Soleimani strike

— The Hill: Opinion: Killing Soleimani: How Trump united Iran against America

— The Hill: Opinion: Trump disrupts, but may not have halted, Iran’s planned ‘Year of Iran’

Thousands gather in Baghdad to commemorate Soleimani after airstrike

Thousands of people marched in Baghdad Saturday to mourn Qassem Soleimani, Iran’s late top general, and several Tehran-backed militia fighters who were killed in a U.S. airstrike this week.

The procession – organized by Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella group of Iranian-supported paramilitary groups – began in Baghdad’s heavily-fortified Green Zone and continued to the Shiite holy cities of Karbala and Najaf, according to Reuters.

Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a militia leader, and other Iraqi fighters will be buried in Najaf, while Soleimani will be buried in his hometown of Kerman in southeast Iran.

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In a sign of the gravity of the repercussions of Soleimani’s death, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi attended the procession. 

The U.S. strike against Soleimani and Muhandis this week sent shockwaves through the region, raising the prospects for retaliation from Iran and an extended conflict between Washington and Tehran that may not be confined to the borders of Iraq or even the confines of the Middle East.

The Trump administration defended the strike against Soleimani, who directed Iran’s proxies across the world, including many in Iraq who fought U.S. troops, saying he had American blood on his hands and was planning another imminent attack.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded to the U.S. attack by vowing “harsh retaliation.”

The U.S. Embassy in Iraq urged Americans to leave the country following the killing, and Britain warned its citizens to avoid all travel to Iraq and avoid all-but-essential travel to Iran.