Trump ordered top-secret security clearance for Kushner: NYT

President previously denied a role in the decision. No Images? Click here   By Paul Vale     Friday, March 1 TRUMP ‘ORDERED’ KUSHNER’S SECURITY CLEARANCE President Donald Trump reportedly ordered a top-secret security clearance be granted to his son-in-law Jared Kushner last year, overruling objections raised by intelligence and White House officials. The New York Times report contradicts Trump’s previous statements claiming he had no role in giving Kushner the clearance. [HuffPost] [Tweet | Share on Facebook] FOURTH REPUBLICAN WAVERS ON NATIONAL EMERGENCY Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) strongly suggested that he would not support Trump’s declaration of a national emergency to fund construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Alexander’s opposition would be significant. Three of his fellow Republicans have said they would join with Democrats and vote to disapprove of the declaration, and only four Republicans are needed to pass the measure. [HuffPost] POMPEO: NO ‘CLARITY’ FROM PYONGYANG Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said North Korea asked for all sanctions to be lifted during the Hanoi summit, but lacked clarity on what it was prepared to offer on dismantling the Yongbyon nuclear facility. “They were pretty expansive with respect to what they are prepared to do at Yongbyon but there was still not complete clarity with respect to full scope of what it is they were prepared to offer,” he said. [Reuters] GORKA: STALINIST AOC TRYING TO STEAL HAMBURGERS Sebastian Gorka, former White House deputy adviser on national security, accused American “socialists” like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) of “trying to take away your hamburgers” — as Soviet dictator Josef Stalin “once dreamt of.” [HuffPost] WHEELER CONFIRMED AT EPA Andrew Wheeler has been confirmed as the nation’s 15th administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Senate voted 52-47 to confirm the former coal lobbyist. [HuffPost] $1 MILLION BOUNTY FOR BIN LADEN’S SON The United States is offering a reward of up to $1 million for information about the son of the late al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, Hamza, who is emerging as a key leader of the Islamist militant group. [BBC]     .   CNN’S ACOSTA SLAMS LAURA INGRAHAM CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta ripped Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Twitter after she opined that media run by the Chinese and Russian governments would treat Trump more kindly than U.S. journalists do. [HuffPost] OREGON COUNCIL EXTENDS PROTECTIONS TO ATHEISTS The city council in Portland, Oregon, has approved a measure extending civil rights protections to atheist, agnostic and other nonreligious residents. [HuffPost] BLOW U-TURN: IMPEACH TRUMP New York Times columnist Charles Blow tweeted that he’s changed his mind ― and now believes it’s time to impeach Trump. [HuffPost] LEPAGE: REMOVING ELECTORAL COLLEGE WOULD SILENCE WHITES Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) bashed proposed legislation in Maine that would circumvent the Electoral College in a presidential election, claiming the move would effectively silence “white people.” [HuffPost] BIDEN WALKS BACK PENCE REMARKS Former Vice President Joe Biden had to walk back remarks about his successor, Mike Pence, after he called him a “decent guy.” The comment was quickly criticized by fellow Democrats, including actress and LGBTQ activist Cynthia Nixon. [HuffPost] HUAWEI EXEC LIKELY TO FACE EXTRADITION Canada is likely to announce that an extradition hearing for Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou can go ahead, worsening Ottawa’s already strained relations with Beijing. [HuffPost]    .   “Beverly Hills, 90210” alum Luke Perry was hospitalized after a reported stroke at his Sherman Oaks, California, home. Veteran actress Lisa Sheridan has died at her home in New Orleans, according to reports. She was 44. Here are 20 dressy plus-size jumpsuits for evening wear. We need more black doulas. Here’s why. A lost painting found in an attic could fetch $171 million at auction. Kashmir is potentially the flashpoint for a future nuclear war. Here’s why. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s masterful interrogation of Michael Cohen was a combined product of committee staff expertise, collaboration and oratory skills. These are the black historical moments most likely to shape 2019. Meryl Streep has become a grandmother, after the 69-year-old actress’ daughter Mamie Gummer gave birth to a child fathered by her fiancé, producer and writer Mehar Sethi. Two Marines stationed near San Diego are being investigated after posting a video that appears to show them in blackface. An environmental disaster is unfolding in the Pacific after a large ship ran aground and began leaking oil next to a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Solomon Islands. Here are 20 V-neck cardigans that look just as cute as tops. YouTube said it will disable the ability for viewers to leave comments on most videos featuring children, as it tries to contain the damage from a scandal involving child predators leaving coded sexual comments on the site. The social media app TikTok will pay the FTC a record fine of $5.7 million for collecting the data of kids under 13. Lady Gaga’s ex-fiancé Taylor Kinney has apologized for a really shady Instagram like. And love this newsletter? Share it with a friend!      Get HuffPost Canada's daily news briefings on your smart speaker. Here's how to install it on your Amazon Echo or your Google Home.     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. Does somebody keep forwarding you this email? Get your own copy. It's free! Sign up here. 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