He’s not Black, he’s O.J. Yesterday’s verdict granting O.J. parole did not invoke the emotion that the 1994 trial did. But there were some memorable quotes during the hearing, including this one: “I’ve basically lived a conflict free life.” C’mon, Juice. Read more choice quotes from yesterday’s hearing here. In other crazy news, a Russian official says that the U.S. and Moscow are negotiating to set up a joint cybersecurity working group. Yep. The same one that Trump suggested in a tweet and then said it can’t happen. Andrey Krutskikh, a top advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin on information security, was cited in Moscow’s RIA news agency on Thursday as saying that talks on the joint group were ongoing. Get the story. And those aren’t the only talks happening inside the WH. The NYT reports that Trump’s lawyers and aides aredigging into the backgrounds of investigators hired by the special counsel Robert Mueller, looking for conflicts of interest. And the WaPo reports that Trump is inquiring about his pardon authorities. Trump’s attorney denies the WaPo report. Back on Capitol Hill, there will definitely be a debate on healthcare next week in the Senate. But on what exactly? We don’t know. And neither do they. Oh -- and two women will make history as the Navy’s first female candidates competing for some of the military branch’s most elite combat roles. We don’t know if either is a woman of color because the Navy would not disclose the identities of the applicants, citing security considerations. But they did confirm that the two women are the first female candidates to make it this far in the process. #FightLikeAGirl. Lots to get to before the weekend. Here’s what we’ve got:
- The Congressional Task Force on Election Integrity is shaping up.
- Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (D-CA) tells GOP nah on border wall funding.
- Did Japan’s first lady purposefully ignore Trump? Judge for yourself.
- Trump gives the NAACP the deuces.
- FCC’s Ajit Pai stands with media.
- Dr. Ben Carson is doing some self-taught on-the-job learning. And, occasionally weighing in on the healthcare debate.
- Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) wants to keep an eye on tech mergers.
- The Beat celebrates leaders. But we also celebrate followers! Hit us up on our social media platforms! See below.
- Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) and Judiciary Dems demand hearings on Trump obstruction.
- Voter fraud commission meets and spews alternative facts galore.
- Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Rand Paul (R-KY) say it’s time to reform bail system.
- Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wants to make contacting a loved one in prison affordable.
- Meet the youngest state Rep in Michigan history.
- Latina strategist heads to Rhode Island.
- While GOP flounders on healthcare, House Dems intro bill to stabilize the marketplace.
- First Latino group pulls out of Texas over anti-immigrant law.
- Trump admin loses again in court -- this time, on sanctuary cities.
- State AGs urge Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to preserve Title IX.