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Calm Before the Storm
What Did President Trump Mean by ‘Calm Before the Storm’?
President Trump was clearly looking to make some kind of news, but about what, exactly, was not clear. And the mystery, as it often does with a president whose statements baffle even his staff, only deepened the next day.
On Thursday evening, the White House told the presidential press corps that Mr. Trump was done with his public schedule for the day. But around 7 p.m., Mr. Trump summoned reporters who were still at work to the State Dining Room, where he was throwing a dinner for military commanders and their spouses.
Gesturing to his guests, he said, “You guys know what this represents? Maybe it’s the calm before the storm.”
“What’s the storm?” asked one reporter.
“Could be the calm before the storm,” Mr. Trump repeated, stretching out the phrase, a sly smile playing across his face.
“From Iran?” ventured another reporter. “On ISIS? On what?”
“What storm, Mr. President?” asked a third journalist, a hint of impatience creeping into her voice.
As the generals shifted from foot to foot, Mr. Trump brought the game of 20 Questions to an end. He praised his beribboned guests as the “world’s great military people” and excused the stymied reporters, who returned to their workstations to start another round of: What was the president talking about?
By Friday, the White House was still unable to shed light on the matter; several of Mr. Trump’s aides said they had no idea what the president meant. But the press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, wanted to make one thing clear: Mr. Trump wasn’t just teasing his favorite antagonists. He was sending a message.
“I wouldn’t say that he’s messing with the press,” Ms. Sanders told reporters. “I think we have some serious world issues here. I think that North Korea, Iran both continue to be bad actors, and the president is somebody who’s going to always look for ways to protect Americans, and he’s not going to dictate what those actions may look like.”
Suddenly, Mr. Trump’s preprandial banter took on an ominous tone. Maybe he was foreshadowing war with North Korea, which he has already threatened with “fire and fury” if the reclusive country aimed its missiles at the United States. Or perhaps he was predicting a clash with Iran, a week before he is expected to disavow the nuclear deal negotiated by his predecessor, Barack Obama.
“He certainly doesn’t want to lay out his game plan for our enemies,” Ms. Sanders declared.
Thank you to the BRAVE servicemen killed in Niger!
Thank you to the BRAVE servicemen in my Africa Command who served, and gave their lives in service of the United States in Niger -- our true HEROES! Very important to RESPECT our National Anthem. Something ungrateful NFL players have yet to learn. #StandForOurAnthem pic.twitter.com/czutyGaMQV
U.S. House of Representatives Passes 20-Week Abortion Ban
House passes 20-week abortion ban
The measure passed heavily along party lines, 237-189.
The bill allows exceptions in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the woman and wouldn't penalize women for seeking to get abortions after 20 weeks.
The legislation is likely to face a tough sell in the Senate. A similar bill passed the House in 2015 but was blocked by Senate Democrats.
With only a 52-seat majority it would be unlikely Senate Republicans could gather the 60 votes needed to move the legislation to President Trump's desk.
Boycott the NFL!
Very important that NFL players always STAND for the playing of our National Anthem. Respect our Flag and our Country! Even Usain Bolt from Jamaica, one of the greatest runners and athletes of all time, showed RESPECT for our National Anthem! pic.twitter.com/zkenuAP9RS #NFLBoycott
Welcome back, @SteveScalise!
I welcome Rep. @SteveScalise of Louisiana, a true friend and patriot, back to our House of Representatives! Big week ahead for Congress! #MAGA
Breaking Frontpage - Editor Bias Revealed!
Pet haters are moderated down at a far greater rate than those who do like pets, and this can only be because pet owners are trying to repress the free speech of those who detest pets! The result, as documented in a front page article, is that many posts has been deep sixed, marked 0s, so that it is not visible by people surfing at 1+! I request, respectfully, that the soylent community cease this act of censorship. Everyone elses moderations are no more valid than mine, and since I thought this particular article important enough to warrant good discussion on SoylentNews. Pet lover's objections are noted, but now I think they may actually be Nazis. Which, as a Native American, seems strange. But I do remember a scene in the movie "Under the Furcano", starring some random guy, where a Guy riding on a greyhound, and wearing a PETA pin, harasses a full-blood Native American Mexican. And then it hit me! Not about racial purity at all, since the half-breeds could feel superior to the full bloods, as long as they were not of the "right" blood. Anonymous Cowards are a mongrel. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I am one, too! But so many object to an investigative posts looking into how bad pet owners are, because they is afraid, and I repeat, AFRAID, that I am calling them Nazis? Methinks the ACs protests too much. Mod anti-pet posts up, eds! Let it go.
Skin Flutes
Semen-contaminated flutes might have been given to children, California school officials warn (archive)
Several school districts in Southern California warned parents this weekend that flutes and recorders given to children through a nonprofit music program may have been contaminated with bodily fluids. At least one district specified that those fluids could have been semen.
Local, state and federal agencies were investigating a male music teacher who visited schools in Southern California through a program called Flutes Across the World, according to updates from the Saugus Union School District, which serves the Santa Clarita area.
“The performer distributes a flutelike musical instrument made of PVC pipe or bamboo to students during a music lesson, and the allegation is that he contaminated some of these instruments with semen,” Saugus Union Superintendent Joan Lucid said in an email to parents on Saturday. “These allegations are deeply concerning, and I realize they raise many questions.”
The California Department of Justice and the U.S. Postal Service were among the agencies investigating the program, the district said. Lucid said children were never alone with the music specialist, who was not a district employee.
Flutes "stained with a man's bodily fluids" issued to California schoolchildren
Flutes Across the World: Japan Edition.
Obama's former nanny "lives in fear in Jakarta slum"
Don't go to Cuba!
President Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Americans entering Cuba, until our country's representatives can figure out what the hell is going on. Some very bad things happened in Cuba. Very bad things. They did some bad things in Cuba. Things that made our diplomats very sick. I guarantee you there's a problem. I can't guarantee you'll be safe. If you go there, you might not be safe. I have friends that are Cubans. They are great people -- but they know we have a problem. We must be vigilant!
