Trump fudges walk back on disastrous Putin meeting

Says he believes U.S. intel agencies, but “it could be other people also” No Images? Click here   By Paul Vale     Wednesday, July 18  TRUMP FUDGES PUTIN WALK BACK Trump tried a retreat from his shambolic press conference with Vladimir Putin, claiming he mixed up his words when he completely undercut American intelligence agencies in favor of the Kremlin. On typed notes, which said he now does accept evidence of Russia’s meddling although “it could be other people also,” Trump scrawled in Sharpie a reminder to mention “no collusion.” It was a performance that closely mirrored the do-over he attempted after his Charlottesville fiasco. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) Tuesday called for the interpreter present during Trump’s private meeting with Putin to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on what was said. 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[HuffPost] COMEY: VOTE DEMS Former FBI director and longtime Republican James Comey has urged Americans to vote for Democrats in November, tweeting, “This Republican Congress has proven incapable of fulfilling the Founders’ design that ‘Ambition must … counteract ambition.’” [HuffPost] OBAMA HITS TRUMP IN MANDELA SPEECH Former President Barack Obama used his Mandela speech in South Africa to rebuke Trump, warning, “Strongman politics are ascendant suddenly, whereby elections and some pretense of democracy are maintained but those in power seek to undermine every institution or norm that gives democracy meaning.” [HuffPost] MIGRANT KIDS 'KICKED' BY BORDER GUARDS Migrant children are telling of their horrific experiences — including being kicked by border patrol guards — while at border patrol stations and detention centers. [HuffPost] MUELLER: GIVE MANAFORT WITNESSES IMMUNITY Special counsel Robert Mueller has asked a federal judge to grant immunity to five witnesses who may be called to testify at the upcoming trial of Paul Manafort. [Politico]         MUSK DONATES FAR MORE TO GOP Billionaire “climate hero” Elon Musk has donated $90,000 this election cycle to Republicans, whose  party denies climate change. [HuffPost] HUNTSMAN IN DIFFICULT FIX Trump’s performance in Finland has placed Jon Huntsman, the U.S. ambassador to Russia, in a terrible, but entirely predictable, situation. [HuffPost] MP: RUSSIA ACCESSED CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA DATA A British MP has claimed the infamous Cambridge Analytica Facebook data set on tens of millions of Americans was accessed from Russia. [CNN] EU AND JAPAN SIGN FREE TRADE DEAL In contrast to the protectionism of the Trump administration, the European Union and Japan just signed a huge free trade deal that cuts or eliminates tariffs on nearly all goods. 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Kate Winslet, Diane Keaton and Mia Wasikowska will star in “Blackbird,” a remake of Bille August’s Danish-language “Silent Heart.” Destiny’s Child singer Michelle Williams has revealed that she is seeking help from professionals for her mental health. Our guest writer explains why air travel is often a humiliating experience for people with disabilities. Texas Democrat Beto O’Rourke has called for Trump’s impeachment over his Russia comments. The U.S. government reportedly forked over more than $77,000 to Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Scotland ahead of the president’s recent stay there. Jason Sudeikis and Olivia Wilde know exactly how to do Disneyland right. Variety explores how Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” changed the Oscars forever. Trump is going to change the colors of the new Air Force One. “You know what colors we’re using? Red, white and blue,” he said. CVS fired two employees in Chicago after one called the police on a black woman who presented a coupon they suspected was fraudulent. Elon Musk has apologized for calling the British cave diver who helped rescue the Thai soccer team a “pedo.” Showtime has hit back at Sarah Palin after the former vice presidential nominee claimed Sacha Baron Cohen “duped” her into an interview for his new show “Who is America?” by pretending to be a disabled war veteran. And swimwear label Bfyne has accused Brazilian fashion designer Silvia Ulson of plagiarism after Ulson showed her latest swimwear collection at Miami Swim Week. And love this newsletter? Share it with a friend!      HuffPost is now a part of Oath and a part of Verizon. On May 25, 2018 we introduced a new Oath Privacy Policy which will explain how your data is used and shared. Learn More. Start your workday the right way with the news that matters most — all with a dash of signature Morning Email snark. 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