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What’s it all about, Mr. Schultz?


**Want FOX News Halftime Report in your inbox every day? Sign up here.**

On the roster: What’s it all about, Mr. Schultz? - I’ll Tell You What: None of us are doing enough - Tim Ryan, Ohio centrist, joins 2020 Dem field - DOJ defends Barr summary of Mueller report - You move! No, you move!

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT, MR. SCHULTZ?
KANSAS CITY – Howard Schultz has the most fundamental kind of question with which to deal tonight: What’s the point?

We get what the point could be. If both major parties nominate radical populists, as they might, that would make Schultz — working-class Brooklyn kid turned Seattle billionaire Starbucks CEO — the lone voice in the field arguing that America still works. He’s been dangling the possibility of that kind of centrist independent candidacy for months now. 

But Schultz hasn’t so far been comfortable in that space. His point has seemingly been that he’s hoping the two major parties sort themselves out so that he doesn’t have to run.

It’s the “I will pull this car over...” version of a presidential campaign.

Now that’s not to say that there isn’t an appetite for that kind of norm enforcement in the electorate. We’ve had so much upheaval in recent political memory that there would surely be many who would savor Schultz’s promise that he might be the kind of president whom you might forget about from time to time. After two celebrity presidents, maybe boring could be beautiful.

What voters are unlikely to embrace, however, is a contingency candidacy.

There is a substantial minority of American voters who deeply distrust both parties. But while the percentage of the electorate that is affiliated has steadily grown, it’s important to remember that most voters are deeply committed partisans. “None of the above” would have considerable appeal in a contest between Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, but it’s hard to imagine the state or states Schultz could actually win.

Tonight, as he answers questions from our colleagues Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum as well as the audience here in Kansas City, Schultz will have his best opportunity yet to start making a case for his candidacy as something more than disaster preparedness.

What’s on his punch list? Is it about balancing the budget? Is it about sustainable growth? Is it about bridging the partisan divide that is tearing the country apart?

If he expects to be viable as an alternative next year, he can’t wait to start sorting that out with voters. Even if it’s a small number of committed supporters, Schultz has to start building an army.

Ross Perot used his own group, United We Stand, as a grassroots outfit in 1992. When folks signed up for Perot, they knew they were signing up for balanced budgets, trade restrictions and lots and lots of charts. 

What does a prospective Schultz voter get? 

He started putting a little substance forward in a framing speech in Miami last month, but he’s still a long way from having an identifiable brand.

We may be more than a year away from the vote, but if he’s serious, time is already running short. To get 45 million or so people to vote for you, especially starting from essentially zero name identification, takes a lot more than just being the least bad alternative.

[Watch Fox: Special coverage of the Howard Schultz town hall kicks off at 6 pm ET.]

THE RULEBOOK: TOGETHER WE CAN 
“Nothing can be more evident than that the thirteen States will be able to support a national government better than one half, or one third, or any number less than the whole.” – Alexander HamiltonFederalist No. 13

TIME OUT: IN AND OUT 
History: “[On this day in 1841] Only 31 days after assuming office, William Henry Harrison, the ninth president of the United States, dies at the White House. The cause of death was officially reported as pneumonia. Born in Charles County, Virginia, in 1773, Harrison served in the U.S. Army in the old Northwest Territory and in 1800 was made governor of the Indian Territory, where he proved an able administrator. … In the War of 1812, Harrison gained his greatest fame as a military commander… In 1816, he was elected to the House of Representatives and in 1825 to the Senate. Gaining the Whig presidential nomination in 1840, he and his running mate, John Tyler, ran a successful campaign under the slogan ‘Tippecanoe and Tyler, too.’ At the inauguration of America’s first Whig president, on March 4, 1841, a bitterly cold day, Harrison declined to wear a jacket or hat, made a two-hour speech, and attended three inauguration balls.”

Flag on the play? - Email us at HALFTIMEREPORT@FOXNEWS.COM with your tips, comments or questions.

SCOREBOARD
Trump job performance 
Average approval: 
42.6 percent
Average disapproval: 52.8 percent
Net Score: -10.2 points
Change from one week ago: down 0.6 points 
[Average includes: NBC/WSJ: 43% approve - 53% disapprove; Pew Research Center: 41% approve - 55% disapprove; NPR/PBS/Marist: 44% approve - 50% disapprove; Quinnipiac University: 39% approve - 55% disapprove; Fox News: 46% approve - 51% disapprove.]

I’LL TELL YOU WHAT: NONE OF US ARE DOING ENOUGH
This week Dana Perino and Chris Stirewalt unpack misconduct allegations against Joe Biden, the latest at the U.S.- Mexico border, and what happens when Dana tries to stay out past her bedtime. Plus, Dana has some trivia, and Chris reads questions from the mailbag. LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE HERE

TIM RYAN, OHIO CENTRIST, JOINS 2020 DEM FIELD 
Cleveland.com: “U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan on Thursday officially added his name to the list of Democrats vying to challenge Republican President Donald Trump in 2020. The Youngstown-area Democrat enters a crowded field with a significant name recognition deficit compared with the other high-profile candidates. Ryan announced he was running on his new campaign website just prior to an appearance on ABC’s ‘The View.’ ‘A quiet revolution is happening in this country,’ Ryan said on his website. ‘One that is driven by compassion and the independent spirit our nation is known for. It’s time for us to invest in our values so we can focus on what really matters: healing and uniting our nation.’ Ryan, 45, becomes the 18th Democrat to have either entered the race or formed an exploratory committee. Over the past two years, Ryan has discussed bringing mindfulness into politics and wanting to court the ‘yoga vote’ – practitioners of which are overwhelmingly women. That was likely part of the reason he decided to appear on the women-centric daytime talk show just after announcing.”

Biden team moves ahead despite allegations - Fox News: “…Biden World is flashing signals that it's all systems go for 2020. The former vice president personally sought to tamp down the controversy with a Twitter video late Wednesday vowing to be ‘more mindful about respecting personal space in the future.’ Moments later, a Washington Post story relayed the accounts of three more women claiming improper contact, on the heels of four similar allegations. But a source close to the former vice president said the controversy, if anything, ‘has strengthened his resolve.’ Asked if the developments would slow Biden’s decision-making process, the adviser answered: ‘Absolutely not.’ The source … added that a Biden announcement could likely come in late April – after Easter – or soon afterward. The release of the video on Wednesday came amid allegations from numerous women that Biden had made them feel uncomfortable with what was described as inappropriate touching.”

First 18 days of Beto’s campaign brings in $9.4 million - NYT: “Former Representative Beto O’Rourke of Texas raised $9.4 million over the first 18 days of his presidential bid, his campaign said on Wednesday, the latest sign of his ability to attract online donors even within a packed Democratic field. The total, which represents Mr. O’Rourke’s fund-raising haul for the first quarter of the year, is smaller than the first-quarter numbers of two rivals, Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Kamala Harris of California. But Mr. O’Rourke only joined the presidential race in mid-March. Mr. O’Rourke, who proved to be an extraordinary online fund-raiser during his unsuccessful run for Senate last year, received 218,000 contributions, with an average donation of $43, his campaign said. It also said that a majority of donors to his presidential bid had not donated to his Senate campaign.”

Sanders readies grassroots program - Politico: “Bernie Sanders' campaign will unveil a slate of top hires and organizing kickoff events Wednesday — the latest sign that he plans to harness his record-breaking grassroots army earlier and more strategically than he did during his first run for the White House. More than 1 million people have signed up to volunteer for his campaign, aides said, and the Sanders team will ask them Wednesday to host house parties across the country on April 27, a date that will double as the official launch of Sanders' 2020 organizing program. … The campaign will provide volunteers at the gatherings with specific strategies and methods to begin helping Sanders. The Vermont senator will tape a ‘special broadcast’ for supporters to watch at the parties.”

Michael Bennet diagnosed with prostate cancer, still mulling 2020 run - WaPo: “Ahead of the launch of an anticipated White House bid, Sen. Michael F. Bennet (D-Colo.) announced Wednesday that he has prostate cancer and will undergo surgery later this month. ‘Late last month, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer,’ the 54-year-old said in a statement posted to Twitter late Wednesday. ‘While hearing news like this is never easy, I am fortunate it was detected early, and as a result, my prognosis is good.’ If he is cancer-free after the surgery, Bennet said he still plans to join the ever-growing pool of Democratic presidential hopefuls, according to the Colorado Independent. On Twitter, Bennet said he will have surgery in Colorado during the coming Senate recess, which starts next week. … ‘This unanticipated hurdle only reinforces how strongly I feel about contributing to the larger conversation about the future of our country...’”

DOJ DEFENDS BARR SUMMARY OF MUELLER REPORT
Politico: “The Department of Justice on Thursday defended releasing an initial summary of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian collusion, saying it couldn’t disclose the full report because it contained protected grand jury information. The statement came after some members of Mueller's team were reportedly unhappy with Attorney General William Barr's characterization of their investigatory work. A Justice Department spokeswoman said Barr provided the initial findings ‘with the understanding that the report itself would be released after the redaction process’ and ‘does not believe the report should be released in serial or piecemeal fashion.’ … Reports in The New York Times and The Washington Post late Wednesday indicated that Mueller's team members told associates that their report contained ‘acute’ evidence that Trump obstructed the investigation of Russian links to his 2016 campaign. Both reports also noted that Mueller's team had prepared summaries meant to be made public, but none of which have emerged.”

MORE INDICTMENTS LOOM FOR N.C. GOP CORRUPTION PROBE
Charlotte Observer: “Federal indictments against the chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, a top political donor and two of his associates on bribery charges could be just the beginning of the scandal that’s rocked the state’s political landscape once again. ‘There could be more indictments to come,’ said Republican Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, the public official who the four are accused of trying to bribe. ‘We don’t know what may happen. And with a case this complex and complicated, it may takes months and months and months or years to get everything sorted out.’ Causey, in an interview with The Charlotte Observer, acknowledged the existence of recorded conversations between him and political donor Greg Lindberg, associates John D. Gray and John V. Palermo, and NC GOP chairman Robin Hayes — the four men indicted for attempting to bribe Causey through campaign contributions from Lindberg funneled through the state party.”

GOP Rep. Mark Walker caught up in the mess - Politico: “Republican Rep. Mark Walker has been caught up in a federal corruption probe that has rocked the North Carolina Republican Party and led to the indictment of former Rep. Robin Hayes. A Walker-controlled political committee received $150,000 from business owner Greg Lindberg at the same time Lindberg allegedly asked him to pressure North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey to replace his deputy, according to a criminal indictment unsealed on Tuesday. Walker, a member of GOP leadership, is not named in the indictment. However, POLITICO has identified him as ‘Public Official A’ using the indictment and Federal Election Commission records.”

And he’s not the only one affected by it - Politico: “A growing number of lawmakers are donating the contributions that their political committees received from a recently indicted businessman in North Carolina, the latest fallout from a federal corruption scandal that has roiled the state's GOP. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) plans to give the $15,000 he took in from Greg Lindberg to several different local charities benefiting soldiers at Fort Bragg, which is in his district. The GOP lawmaker says he didn't do anything wrong, but just wants to avoid the appearance of any impropriety. … GOP Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina has already returned his contributions from Lindberg to the Cleveland County Rescue Mission, a local charity in his district, while Florida Democrat Rep. Charlie Crist plans to give his donations to the Special Olympics. And North Carolina Rep. Ted Budd (R) has decided to donate his entire contribution to The Dragonfly House Children's Advocacy Center located in Mocksville.”

THE JUDGE’S RULING: IS OBAMACARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL?
This week Fox News Senior Judicial Analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano explains the Constitutional history behind the Affordable Care Act: “The legal battle over the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act – ObamaCare – will soon be back in court due to the largely unexpected consequences of a series of recent events. When the ACA was enacted in 2010, it was a stool with four legs. … When the legal challenge to the ACA was before the Supreme Court in June 2012, the core issue was the Commerce Clause of the Constitution – which delegates to Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce – empower the Congress to compel people to engage in it by purchasing a health insurance policy. As the late President George H.W. Bush liked to ask: Can Congress force me to eat broccoli? … But the Supreme Court is infallible because it is final, as Justice Robert Jackson once observed. It can do what it wants and call a penalty or an assessment or a command to eat broccoli a tax. By doing so, the ACA was saved.” More here.

PLAY-BY-PLAY
House Panel Chair Rep. Richard Neal requests six years of Trump’s tax returns - WSJ

Report: Feds investigating possible Chinese spying at Mar-a-Lago - Miami Herald

U.S. ready to send funds to Venezuela if leadership changes - Bloomberg

AUDIBLE: HMMM… 
“I refused to concede because, here's the thing: Concession needs to say something is right and true and proper. … You can’t trick me into saying it was right.” – Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams discussing her 2018 loss against Republican Gov. Brian Kemp during an event in New York City on Wednesday. 

FROM THE BLEACHERS
“The other day, one of your faithful readers brought up the subject about how you have chosen the 5 polls you use for tracking the president’s ‘popularity.’ Having been down this road myself, I am content with the criteria you have used in making your selections. My new bone to pick at is a little more ‘wonkish’ - You never put the ‘margin of error’ spread in, which are published with each poll you list. The polling companies (and the occasional university) you use do admit that there is always errors in the samples and using weighting factors can only do so much to smooth out these errors. The good polling companies you are using all approach polls as having 95% confidence, with an error margin of +/- 3% (which is a total swing of 6 points.) This may not seem like much to most people, but it became the nightmare in 2016 when Mr. Trump broke the margins in several key states (we don’t anoint presidents, we elect them - sorry Hillary.) Even though it appears on the surface that Trump is not a well-liked person, it’s the underlying policies that the majority of voters are really looking at. All that being said, publishing the margins of error for each poll might give us a little better idea on where the country really is regarding his popularity. Error margins are extremely important particularly as Election Day comes closer. Just a thought... Oh, and yes, I am a faithful reader myself, and enjoy the clear and unbiased commentary you express to us every Monday through Friday. You are always thoughtful and don’t ‘talk down’ to us. Keep fighting the good fight - we’re all in this together.” – John William Gibson, Coos Bay, Ore.

[Ed. note: I certainly take your point, Mr. Gibson. A couple of thoughts: Since you can’t tabulate an average margin of error for a polling average, I tend to think that including the numbers would be distracting. We’ve already got quite a few geegaws and gimcracks in there already. Secondly, the way to think about margins of error is that the top line number represents the midpoint on a spectrum. It is the result in which the pollster has the highest confidence. In 2016, national polling was actually more accurate on average than in 2012. There were certainly some misses on the state level, but generally speaking, the polls held up in 2016. Unfortunately for Clinton, national numbers are indicative but not what decide our presidential elections.] 

“I too, believe the polls you choose to use are skewed. You say you don’t use Rasmussen but which was the most accurate poll during the 2016 election? Was it not Rasmussen?” – Carlton Clunn, Eureka, Mont.

[Ed. note: It was not. The survey conducted by The University of Southern California was the most predictive. But even if Rasmussen had been on the nose, it still wouldn’t merit our attention. I could guess the height of the St. Louis Gateway Arch and might get pretty close, but that wouldn’t make my guesswork a substitute for measuring.

Share your color commentary: Email us at HALFTIMEREPORT@FOXNEWS.COM and please make sure to include your name and hometown.

YOU MOVE! NO, YOU MOVE!
Fox News: “Two drivers in California were willing to waste a good chunk of their day duking it out for a parking spot… The encounter took place in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles on Monday… Dubbed the ‘black car’ and the ‘silver car,’ drivers in each vehicle appeared to spend close to two hours — from 6:20 p.m., seemingly until past 8 p.m. — trying to parallel park along a sidewalk. The first photo showed the two cars vying for a spot. … The drivers of both vehicles waited in the street, eventually turning on their hazard lights and backing up traffic because of their standoff. … As horns beeped, the two vehicles hadn't moved as of 7:19 p.m. … But shortly after 7:30 … a third vehicle … left its spot, freeing up space for both the black and silver cars to park on the road. Both the black and silver cars quickly parked, before sitting in their cars for some time before getting out. … The driver of the silver car eventually got out of their car … leaving the dramatic scene after 8 p.m.”

AND NOW, A WORD FROM CHARLES…
“Not quite the 18th-century elegance of ‘Don’t Tread on Me,’ but the age of Twitter has a different cadence from the age of the musket. What the modern battle cry lacks in archaic charm, it makes up for in full-body syllabic punch.” – Charles Krauthammer (1950-2018) writing for National Review on Nov. 19, 2010.  

Chris Stirewalt is the politics editor for Fox News. Brianna McClelland contributed to this report. Want FOX News Halftime Report in your inbox every day? Sign up here.

Source: Fox News Politics

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Are Biden and Bernie for real?


On the roster: Are Biden and Bernie for real? - Trump seeks to make the most Mueller for 2020 - McConnell sidesteps health insurance imbroglio - Pelosi popularity strong among Dems - An Odie-ous mystery solved

ARE BIDEN AND BERNIE FOR REAL?
U.S. News: “Three months into the 2020 presidential race, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont have maintained their positions as dual Democratic front-runners, one without even being a declared candidate. And yet there's an abiding sense among some Democrats and Republicans that the predominant positions of the two septuagenarians are eminently fragile, largely based on name recognition and prone to crumble as more voters dial in and sort through the bountiful options before them. The burgeoning candidacies of Sen. Kamala Harris of California and former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke look like the strongest initial threats to the polling leaders' supremacy, both decades younger, fresher and offering that intangible ingredient of organic excitement. ‘Kamala had the best rollout. Bernie probably surprised people that he still had such a strong following in terms of fundraising. I think he showed a lot of muscle,’ says the Rev. Al Sharpton… ‘I think it's between Bernie and Kamala: They had the best first three months.’”

Harris’ big dollar donors are raising some questions - RCP: “Harris will leave the campaign trail to headline the April 1 fundraiser hosted by [multimillionaire Angelo] Tsakopoulos in Sacramento. The lieutenant governor and daughter of the real estate developer, Eleni Kounalakis, will also attend. The dinner runs between $1,000 and $2,800 a plate, according to the Sacramento Bee. And the meal raises an awkward question: Are wealthy donors with questionable pasts a political liability in an increasingly progressive Democratic presidential primary? Does it matter? … The public certainly thinks money in politics is a problem. … Harris has skipped that primary posturing. She is digging for donor gold in the Golden State right now. Of course, even if she finds some, a single donor won’t be enough. The influencers that will surround the senator in Sacramento can only give a maximum of $5,600 — half for the primary, the other half held in reserve for the general.”

Booker hometown rally to kickoff national campaign swing - Fox News: “Presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker’s heading home to kickoff what he’s calling a ‘Justice for All Tour.’ The Democrat from New Jersey announced on Friday that he’ll hold a hometown kickoff in downtown Newark on Saturday, April 13. Booker served as the mayor of the Garden State’s largest city for two terms before winning his Senate seat in 2013. Booker declared his candidacy for the White House in February, but as is often the practice, an official presidential campaign announcement is followed by formal kickoff event at a later date. The practice allows a candidate to grab extra media attention and hopefully build more excitement among supporters. The event in Newark is the first in a two-week cross-country tour that Booker’s campaign said will be used ‘to highlight his message of reigniting our sense of common purpose to build a more just country for the American people.’”

Hickenlooper’s different drummer - Politico: “[John] Hickenlooper is certainly different. Nothing about his appearance, from his rumpled shirts to the crooked row of bottom teeth to the untamed wisps of gray flopping over his forehead, seems especially presidential. He speaks in frenetic bursts, beginning one word before concluding its predecessor, his rhetorical pacing off-key like a garaged piano. Every question asked of him invites a story, often with no guarantee of a thematic circling back to the subject at hand. He says things like, ‘I’m not the smartest guy out there,’ not exactly standard fare for an aspiring leader of the Free World. … The candidate’s friends call him ‘odd,’ ‘quirky,’ ‘eccentric.’ For anyone who watched Hickenlooper’s recent CNN town hall—a prime-time event capable of jump-starting a longshot candidacy—these descriptors seem generous.”

Miami gets first Dem debates - Miami Herald: “Miami won’t be the home of the 2020 Democratic convention, but the city will get to host the first debates among the top 20 candidates hoping to win the party’s nomination. The Democratic National Committee announced Thursday that it has selected Miami to host the party’s first debates, on June 26 and 27. … The debates are scheduled over two nights as the DNC expects to make room for as many as 20 candidates. Participants in a given debate will be selected randomly, so headliners like Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris could be on stage with fringe candidates like Andrew Yang or even Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam.”

THE RULEBOOK: NATURALLY 
“When men exercise their reason coolly and freely on a variety of distinct questions, they inevitably fall into different opinions on some of them. When they are governed by a common passion, their opinions, if they are so to be called, will be the same.” – Alexander Hamilton or James MadisonFederalist No. 50

TIME OUT: ALOHA 'OE
Smithsonian: “Born in 1838, [Queen] Liliʻuokalani [the last monarch of the Hawaiian Islands] began her musical training at around age seven as part of her schooling. … In 1893, the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown by a group led by U.S. Government Minister John L. Stevens, and Queen Liliʻuokalani was put under house arrest at the ‘Iolani Palace as a result. During her time there, she composed many pieces mourning the treatment of her homeland and people. One such song was ‘Mai Wakinekona a Iolani Hale.’ Liliʻuokalani anonymously wrote the song’s lyrics and published them in a weekly Hawaiian language newspaper, subversively messaging how she came to be imprisoned. The following week, someone published a response in song lyrics, ‘We have heard you, oh heavenly one, our ruler, and we support you.’ … This piece was only recently discovered. Many of the Queen’s lesser-known compositions are now being newly appreciated as the Hawaiian language is making a comeback after years of oppression.”

Flag on the play? - Email us at HALFTIMEREPORT@FOXNEWS.COM with your tips, comments or questions.

SCOREBOARD
Trump job performance 
Average approval:
 42.6 percent
Average disapproval: 52.4 percent
Net Score: -9.8 points
Change from one week ago: up 0.6 points 
[Average includes: Pew Research Center: 41% approve - 55% disapprove; NPR/PBS/Marist: 44% approve - 50% disapprove; Quinnipiac University: 39% approve - 55% disapprove; Fox News: 46% approve - 51% disapprove; CNN: 43% approve - 51% disapprove.]

TRUMP SEEKS TO MAKE THE MOST MUELLER FOR 2020  
Atlantic: “[Special Counsel RobertMueller might be done with his investigation, but [PresidentTrump and company are loath to let it drop. They want to capitalize on the president escaping criminal charges and make Mueller’s findings a core piece of 2020 campaign messaging. … Yet many Republican lawmakers and strategists fear that Trump would be fixating on the wrong message at the wrong time. They worry that Trump risks repeating the same strategic blunder he made in the midterm elections, which culminated in Republicans losing control of the House. Rather than spotlight economic gains rung up on his watch, the president might wind up dwelling on collateral issues of scant interest to voters. … Trump allies see Barr’s letter as a kind of Swiss Army knife—a tool useful in all kinds of situations. Not only is it exculpatory, they say, but it also implicitly rebukes the press for its coverage of the Russia investigation, inoculating Trump from any future scandal that reporters might unearth.”

Trump campaigns in Michigan, attacks opponents - Fox News: “In his first major rally since Special Counsel Robert Mueller cleared him of any collusion with Russia, President Trump took the stage before a boisterous full house at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Thursday night -- and proceeded to tear into Democrats and the FBI as unintelligent ‘frauds’ who tried desperately to undermine the results of the 2016 election. ‘The Democrats have to now decide whether they will continue defrauding the public with ridiculous bullsh--,’ Trump said to thunderous applause, ‘-- partisan investigations, or whether they will apologize to the American people.’ Trump continued to unload on his opponents… Addressing counterprotesters outside the arena and progressives in general, Trump asked: ‘What do you think of their signs, 'Resist?' What the hell? Let's get something done.’”

Mueller or no Mueller, Trump approval stays steady - Pew Research Center: “The public’s views of Donald Trump have changed little over the course of his presidency… The survey by Pew Research Center, conducted March 20-25 among 1,503 adults, finds that 40% approve of the way Trump is handling his job as president, little changed since January (37%). … Trump’s job rating was not significantly different in the days following the release of Barr’s report… Trump’s job rating continues to be more stable – and more polarized along partisan lines – than those of past presidents. Currently, 81% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents approve of Trump’s job performance, while 88% of Democrats and Democratic leaners disapprove.”

POLL: HUGE MAJORITY WANTS FULL MUELLER REPORT
NPR: “Days after Attorney General William Barr released his four-page summary of special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation report, overwhelming majorities of Americans want the full report made public and believe Barr and Mueller should testify before Congress, according to a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll. Only about a third of Americans believe, from what they’ve seen or heard about the Mueller investigation so far, that President Trump is clear of any wrongdoing. … At the same time, 56 percent said Mueller conducted a fair investigation, and 51 percent said they were satisfied with it. That included 52 percent of independents who said they were satisfied with the investigation. It's one of the rare questions in the first two years of the Trump presidency in which a majority of independents sided with Republicans instead of Democrats on a subject. … Overall, three-quarters said the full Mueller report should be made public. That included a majority of Republicans (54 percent). Just 18 percent overall said Barr's summary is enough.”

How did Trump avoid a special counsel interview? - WaPo: “In the end, the decision not to subpoena the president is one of the lingering mysteries of Mueller’s 22-month investigation… An interview with the president would have been pivotal to helping assess whether the president had corrupt intent, a key element of such a charge, legal experts said. It is an open question whether a subpoena would have survived the court challenge that Trump’s lawyers say they would have mounted. The Supreme Court has never issued definitive guidance on issuing a subpoena to a president, but had Mueller pursued one, the courts could have established a precedent for future presidents. In assessing whether to pursue such a high-stakes move, the special counsel was not operating with complete autonomy. That was a contrast with predecessors such as Kenneth Starr, who investigated President Bill Clinton and had broad leeway under the now-expired independent counsel statute.”

MCCONNELL SIDESTEPS HEALTH INSURANCE IMBROGLIO 
Politico: “Mitch McConnell has no intention of leading President Donald Trump’s campaign to transform the GOP into the ‘party of health care.’ ‘I look forward to seeing what the president is proposing and what he can work out with the speaker,’ McConnell said in a brief interview Thursday… Now in divided government, with the Senate majority up for grabs next year and McConnell himself running for reelection, another divisive debate over health care is the last thing McConnell needs. … So the Kentucky Republican and his members are putting the onus on the president to figure out the next steps. McConnell’s clear reluctance toward trying to draft a sweeping health care bill in the Senate reflects his political instincts: that it’s better to focus on perceived Democratic weaknesses — the left’s push on ‘Medicare for All’ — than to struggle to unify his own party on a plan almost certain to be rebuffed by Senate Democrats and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).”

Trump’s ask: A ‘spectacular’ plan - Bloomberg: “President Donald Trump said he asked a group of U.S. senators to create a health-care plan to replace Obamacare, as his administration seeks to have the law signed by his predecessor invalidated in court. Republicans John Barrasso of Wyoming, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Rick Scott of Florida are developing the plan, Trump told reporters Thursday as he departed the White House for a political rally in Michigan. ‘They are going to work together, come up with something that’s really spectacular,’ Trump said. ‘Maybe we’ll even get support in the House from Democrats. But it’s going to be far better than Obamacare,’ the president added, calling the law a ‘disaster.’”

Judge blocks Trump plan to let employers work around ObamaCare rules - AP: “A federal judge has struck down a small-business health insurance plan widely touted by President Donald Trump, the second setback in a week for the administration's health care initiatives. U.S. District Judge John D. Bates wrote in his opinion late Thursday that so-called ‘association health plans’ were ‘clearly an end-run’ around consumer protections required by the Obama-era Affordable Care Act. On Wednesday, another federal judge blocked the Trump administration's Medicaid work requirements for low-income people. The plans at issue in Bates' ruling Thursday allow groups of small businesses and sole proprietors to band together to offer lower-cost coverage that doesn't have to include all the benefits required by the ACA, often called ‘Obamacare.’ They also can be offered across state lines, an attempt to deliver on a major Trump campaign promise.”

PELOSI POPULARITY STRONG AMONG DEMS
Pew Research Center: “As the new Congress approaches the 100-day mark, the public generally has negative views of both Democratic and Republican leaders. Just a third approve of the job performance of Democratic congressional leaders, while 59% disapprove. Job ratings for GOP leaders are similar (31% approve, 63% disapprove). House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s job rating is somewhat more negative than positive: 40% approve of her job performance while 46% disapprove. Still, Pelosi’s job rating is more positive than then-Speaker Paul Ryan’s was two years ago. At similar points during their tenures as speaker, John Boehner and Newt Gingrich had evenly divided job ratings. The partisan gap in views of Pelosi’s job rating is generally wider than those of her predecessors. Democrats are about four times as likely as Republicans to approve of Pelosi’s job performance than are Republicans (62% vs. 15%). … Early in her tenure as House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi’s job rating is deeply divided along partisan lines. … About six-in-ten Democrats (62%) approve of Pelosi’s job performance.”

Pelosi backs new DCCC hiring policy against progressives’ pleas - National Journal: “Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic leaders expressed support Thursday for a new Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee hiring policy that progressives claim will blackball vendors who work for primary challengers against incumbent Democrats. That comes after a tense meeting Wednesday afternoon between DCCC Chairwoman Cheri Bustos and leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, who want Democrats to rescind the rule. The policy states they will neither hire nor recommend to House offices any political vendors who work to oust sitting Democrats. ‘I support the chair of the DCCC,’ Pelosi said, when asked whether she backs the policy. In the private meeting, progressives invoked Pelosi as an example of a leader who understands their concerns as members from left-leaning districts, as opposed to Bustos, who represents a district that supported President Trump, according to two sources familiar with the meeting.”

PLAY-BY-PLAY
Senate approves GOP budget AP

McConnell sets up debate next week to make confirmation of Trump nominees easier Roll Call

Brexit is beaten for third time Friday, no sign if Britain will leave the EU WaPo

Rep. Dan Crenshaw could be the GOP’s answer to progressive House Dems - National Review

AUDIBLE: NAME DROPPING  
“As a former seven-year Reagan administration Justice Department official, I kind of think that the president's early steps in this administration have gone well beyond anything President Richard Nixon ever did.” – Former Republican Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld talking about President Trump with Shannon Bream on “Fox News @ Night.” Weld plans to make a decision on running for president in April.  

ANY GIVEN SUNDAY
This weekend Mr. Sunday will sit down with Counselor to the President, Kellyanne Conway. Watch “Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace.” Check local listings for broadcast times in your area.

#mediabuzz - Host Howard Kurtz has the latest take on the week’s media coverage. Watch #mediabuzz Sundays at 11 a.m. ET.

FROM THE BLEACHERS
“Sometimes I just don’t get [The Rulebook]. The first sentence is easy enough. I don’t follow the meaning of the second sentence. Would it be possible to get a ref’s interpretation of [Thursday’s] rule? ‘The natural cure for an ill-administration, in a popular or representative constitution, is a change of men. A guaranty by the national authority would be as much levelled against the usurpations of rulers as against the ferments and outrages of faction and sedition in the community.’ – Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 21.” – Mike Tardif, Santa Ana, Calif.

[Ed. note: When we look at the Federalist Papers we are reading impassioned arguments from the proponents of the Constitution for the creation of a federal republic to replace the confederacy that was in place from 1781 to 1789. When Hamilton wrote those words in December of 1787 he was attacking the then-governing charter, the Articles of Confederacy, as insufficient. A chief problem, he argued, was that the national government lacked the authority or practical ability to enforce the laws that it passed or to guarantee the rights of its citizens. Some 4,000 armed rebels led by Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays had staged a nearly year-long insurrection in western Massachusetts that ended just six months before Hamilton was writing. Shays & Co. were protesting what they said were heavy-handed taxation and tax collection by the government of the state of Massachusetts. Their goal was the violent overthrow of the government of the commonwealth before they were eventually crushed by a private army raised by the anxious citizens of Boston led by Revolutionary Gen. Benjamin Lincoln. Rage mobs fighting private armies is not exactly conducive to good order and predictable governance. Hamilton argued that the loose affiliation of the confederacy and weak central government was an invitation to further problems of this kind and that the national government needed the power to enforce the basic rules and keep order. What he’s saying in the passage we quoted is that in a republic the remedy for bad state government remains the same – an election – but that the federal government would serve as a counterweight against bad state leaders or “usurpations of rulers” as much as it will provide protection from rage mobs attacking the rule of law itself, “the ferments and outrages of faction and sedition.”]    

“I get as much enjoyment from your response to the ‘Bleachers’ as I do from the ‘Report.’ You would be a great diplomat. Two more for your ‘creel.’  I was born in Parcoal and spent my early youth in No. 4 (a town on 1947 WV maps, and not even a wide place in the road now), both in Webster County.” – Rod Steorts, Sutton, W. Va.

[Ed. note: Sweet fancy Moses! I of course knew of Parcoal, which I have passed through several times on my way to Kumbrabow State Forest and Helvetia (near another favorite of mine: Czar, W.Va.). But I knew nothing of No. 4, W.Va. That’s a fine catch indeed.]

“Chris, Read with interest your list of West Virginia datelines in the response to the gentleman from Rhodelia. Having been raised at Mud, W.Va. (post office no longer exists), which is just over the hill from Big Ugly, I was pleased to see it made your list. One of my favorite headlines from the Hamlin Lincoln Journal has always been: ‘Big Ugly Woman Injured in Auto Accident.’” – Billy Atkins, Morgantown, W. Va.

[Ed. note: But was she?]

“Oh Chris why would you not want the Cubs to have a great season? We are in first place at the moment. Love the Halftime Report and I make sure I read it every day no matter how long it is.” – Anne Purcell, Chicago

[Ed. note: Ms. Purcell, I am a devout supporter of the National League franchise in St. Louis. For there to be true harmony in my baseball universe it’s not just necessary for the Cardinals to win but for the Cubs to lose. You could say that it’s small of me, but the crackle of that rivalry has warmed my heart even late in seasons like last year after hope was gone for the pennant to return to where it belongs, 700 Clark Ave. And something tells me that this year’s battle between our two warring tribes may indeed be one for the history books. See you in September!]

“Chris — Thanks for the humanity — and I would add, ‘Christianity’ except that the idea of love for the ‘aliens resident among’ us springs from the Hebrew Bible — in your response to a writer insisting on the ‘illegals’ label. Blessings!” – Rev. John Johnson, Tucson, Ariz.

[Ed. note: I will only quote theologian and Pastor Tim Keller back to you, Rev. Johnson: “Love without truth is sentimentality; it supports and affirms us but keeps us in denial about our flaws. Truth without love is harshness; it gives us information but in such a way that we cannot really hear it.”]

“Why on Fox Nation with Brianna and Chris is the horseshoe hanging pointing down allowing the luck to run out? Been wondering.” – Steve Adams, Bellefonte, Pa.

[Ed. note: You caught me, Mr. Adams! The horseshoe is not there for luck, as I am not the superstitious type. It is there to remind me to be worthy of my heritage. It was made by my great-grandfather, James. He was by all evident results a pretty poor farmer and lacked the instincts for business. But he was, by the accounts I have heard, a very good farrier, a man on whom his neighbors relied to keep their horses afoot. Old Jim Stirewalt was a poor man and perhaps not a particularly gifted one, but he found a way to keep himself and his family going. When I don’t know what to write or what to say, I am reminded to stoke the fire, grab the tongs and hammer away.]

Share your color commentary: Email us at HALFTIMEREPORT@FOXNEWS.COM and please make sure to include your name and hometown.

AN ODIE-OUS MYSTERY SOLVED
AFP: “For more than 30 years bright orange ‘Garfield’ phones have been washing up on the French coast to the bemusement of local beach cleaners …the novelty landline phones, modelled on the prickly feline cartoon character, that have plagued the northern Finistere beaches for decades. ‘Our association has existed for 18 years and in that time we have found pieces of Garfield telephones almost each time we clean,’ said Claire Simonin, the head of local beach cleaning group Ar Viltansou in Brittany. But it wasn't until a local resident revealed that he had discovered the container after a storm in the 1980s that they were finally able to locate it -- wedged in a partially submerged cave only accessible at low tide. … ‘Under the boulders in front of the entrance, we found 23 complete handsets with electronics and wires. They were everywhere,’ she added.”

AND NOW, A WORD FROM CHARLES…
“‘If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen’ [Barack Obama said.] … To say all individuals are embedded in and the product of society is banal.” – Charles Krauthammer (1950-2018) writing for the National Review on July 20, 2012.

Chris Stirewalt is the politics editor for Fox News. Brianna McClelland contributed to this report. Want FOX News Halftime Report in your inbox every day? Sign up here.

Source: Fox News Politics

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Coast Guard lieutenant accused as ‘domestic terrorist’ can’t be held before trial, judge says

A Coast Guard lieutenant who investigators said espoused white nationalist views and compiled a hit list of prominent Democratic politicians and media personalities cannot be held in custody before his trial on drug and gun charges, a federal magistrate ruled Thursday.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Day ordered a follow-up detention hearing at which Christopher Hasson's defense team will be required to propose suitable bail conditions. The judge noted that he had "grave concerns" about Hasson and warned that he would "have to have a whole lot of supervision." Federal prosecutors have indicated that they will challenge any release conditions imposed by Hasson's defense team in an effort to keep him in custody pending trial.

Hasson, 50, was arrested Feb. 15 in the parking garage of the Coast Guard's Washington headquarters. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of unlawful possession of silencers, possession of firearms by a drug addict and unlawful user, and for possession of the opioid painkiller tramadol.

Following a bail hearing days after Hasson's arrest, Day agreed to keep the defendant held in custody but said he was willing to revisit his decision if prosecutors didn't bring more serious charges within two weeks. Hasson's attorney, Liz Oyer, wrote in a court filing last week that prosecutors recently disclosed they didn't expect to seek any additional charges.

Prosecutors described Hasson in court documents as a "domestic terrorist" who "intends to murder innocent civilians on a scale rarely seen in this country." According to a court filing, Hasson compiled a spreadsheet of so-called "traitors" that he subdivided into three categories: A,B, and C. So-called "Category A" traitors included Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut (labeled "Sen blumen jew" in the spreadsheet), Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts (labeled "poca warren"), Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California.

Also listed in "Category A" were House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., MSNBC personalities Joe Scarborough, Chris Hayes and Ari Melber as well as CNN host Don Lemon. Names in the "Category B" list included Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., CNN personalities Chris Cuomo and Van Jones and the Democratic Socialists of America.

At a bond hearing in February, prosecutor Jennifer Sykes said Hasson also would log on to his government computer during work and spend hours searching for information on such people as the Unabomber, the Virginia Tech gunman and anti-abortion bomber Eric Rudolph. Hasson also allegedly Googled topics including "most liberal senators," "best place in dc to see congress people," and "civil war if trump impeached."

Investigators removed this cache of guns and ammunition from Hasson's Maryland apartment. (U.S. District Court via AP)

Investigators removed this cache of guns and ammunition from Hasson's Maryland apartment. (U.S. District Court via AP)

Prosecutors' motion for pre-trial detention also included extracts from draft emails in which Hasson wrote he was "dreaming of a way to kill almost every last person on the earth." In a separate draft letter to a neo-Nazi leader, prosecutors said Hasson "identified himself as a White Nationalist for over 30 years and advocated for 'focused violence' in order to establish a white homeland."

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Investigators also found and removed 15 guns, including seven rifles, and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition from Hasson's basement apartment in Silver Spring, Md., prosecutors said.

Hasson faces up to 31 years in prison if convicted on all charges. No trial date has been set.

Fox News' Bill Mears and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: Fox News National

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Winter storm bringing 'widespread hazardous weather' stretching from Midwest to Northeast

A "significant" winter storm is bringing the threat of snow, ice and rain to every state east of the Mississippi River on Wednesday, causing the federal government to shutter offices and leading to widespread travel disruptions.

The National Weather Service said the strengthening storm will bring areas of heavy snow and ice from the Midwest into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast during the day Wednesday and into early Thursday.

"This is not a blockbuster storm by any means, but it is going to cause travel problems," Fox News Senior Meteorologist Janice Dean said Wednesday on "FOX & Friends."

WINTER STORM TO BRING SNOW, ICY MIX, FLOODING CONCERNS FOR UP TO 200 MILLION AMERICANS

The Washington D.C. area could get between 2 and 5 inches of snow before transitioning to an icy mix around 1 p.m. and then rain, according to Dean.

Snow will impact the major cities across the Northeast by midday on Wednesday.

Snow will impact the major cities across the Northeast by midday on Wednesday. (Fox News)

Further north, several inches of snow is expected to fall in the Philadelphia and New York City areas starting midday before changing to a wintry mix and then rain by the night.

Winter weather alerts and flood advisories span across multiple states.

Winter weather alerts and flood advisories span across multiple states. (Fox News)

"That means the potential for ice and then all rain as we go into the overnight hours," Dean said.

SNOW-SHOVELING DOG CAPTURED ON VIDEO

The wintry weather has the potential to make already slow evening rush hours across the major Northeast cities even worse. In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm.

"Avoid unnecessary travel, particularly this afternoon," the New Jersey Department of Transportation warned on Twitter. Commercial vehicles were also banned from certain highways in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Schools across the region planned early dismissals, and more than 1,600 flights have been canceled nationwide as of 8:30 a.m., according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.

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The biggest airports affected by the storm were in the nation's capital, with Reagan National, Baltimore/Washington International and Washington Dulles International leading with the greatest. Chicago's O'Hare and Philadelphia International were also impacted.

Further south, the storm is bringing the threat of flooding due to moisture "surging north" from Louisiana to the Ohio Valley, according to the NWS' Weather Prediction Center.

"Rainfall amounts on the order of 1 to 3 inches are expected through Friday morning across much of the Deep South as multiple rounds of rainfall over the same areas, and widespread flash flood watches are in effect," the NWS said. "River flooding in the coming days will also be an issue."

Source: Fox News National

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Exclusive: Retailer Pier 1 taps debt restructuring lawyers – sources

The Pier 1 Imports store is seen in Broomfield
FILE PHOTO: The Pier 1 Imports store is seen in Broomfield, Colorado September 17, 2014. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

March 14, 2019

By Jessica DiNapoli and Mike Spector

(Reuters) – U.S. home furnishing retail chain Pier 1 Imports Inc has tapped debt restructuring lawyers to navigate potential negotiations with lenders as it struggles with falling sales, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

Known for selling wicker chairs and scented candles, Pier 1 has suffered financial losses amid an increasingly competitive retail landscape dominated by the likes of Amazon.com Inc and Walmart Inc.

Pier 1, which has roughly 987 stores in the United States and Canada, has added debt restructuring specialists at Kirkland & Ellis LLP to a roster of advisers counseling the chain as it explores strategic alternatives, the sources said.

Pier 1 is also taking meetings with investment bankers who have debt restructuring expertise as it weighs options, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the company’s deliberations are confidential. As of December, the company had about $200 million in long-term debt. Pier 1 has a market capitalization of $90 million.

A Pier 1 representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment and a Kirkland spokesman had no immediate comment. As of March 2018, the company employed roughly 18,500 people at its stores.

The engagement of Kirkland & Ellis restructuring lawyers, who typically work on significant bankruptcies and other financial workouts, marks a new chapter in Pier 1’s turnaround efforts after previous initiatives failed to bear fruit.

However, a bankruptcy filing is not yet on the horizon for Pier 1, which had about $71 million in cash as of December and $400 million available from a revolving credit line, one of the sources said. The company’s debt begins coming due in 2021, and it is cutting spending.

The Fort Worth, Texas-based company in December said it hired Credit Suisse to advise on a “full range” of strategic alternatives and that its chief executive had stepped down. The company acknowledged that a transformation plan it had dubbed “A New Day,” unveiled last year, failed to deliver results fast enough.

Pier 1’s $200 million term loan coming due in 2021 is currently trading at about 50 cents on the dollar, according to data from financial services provider Refinitiv, indicating that investors are concerned about the company’s prospects. Lenders holding the debt have organized and tapped their own advisers, the people familiar with the matter said, a move that often presages restructuring negotiations between a company and its creditors.

Moody’s Investors Service Inc in December said Pier 1’s outlook was negative because of the chain’s weak operating performance and uncertainty over whether it would be able to turn around its business. Pier 1’s well-known brand may help it, though, the ratings agency said.

The downturn for retailers has led to high-profile bankruptcies including Sears Holdings Corp and Toys “R” Us Inc. In the recent rout, furniture chains like Pier 1 have so far been insulated from the upheaval.

(Reporting by Jessica DiNapoli and Mike Spector in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

Source: OANN

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Ecuador orders arrest of former foreign minister

An Ecuadorian judge has ordered the arrest of a former foreign minister, highlighting political tensions in the country that evicted WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from the country's London embassy last week.

Ricardo Patiño says in a video message on social media that he's being wrongfully pursued for calling for peaceful protests against President Lenin Moreno.

Ecuadorian prosecutors said Thursday they've asked Interpol to help detain Patiño for allegedly urging people to take over public institutions and shut down roads last year. They say he is suspected of "instigation."

Patiño is an ally of former President Rafael Correa, who granted asylum to Assange in 2012 and who has been feuding with Moreno.

Source: Fox News World

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Tiger feels ‘close’ after carding 69 in TPC final round

PGA: THE PLAYERS Championship - Final Round
Mar 17, 2019; Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, USA; Tiger Woods chips on the ninth hole during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass - Stadium Course. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

March 17, 2019

Finishing his round just as the leaders were teeing off, Tiger Woods closed with a 3-under-par 69 at The Players Championship on Sunday.

It was his only sub-70 round of the week. He finished the tournament at 6-under par after rounds of 70, 71 and 72 the first three days at TPC Sawgrass Stadium in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

“I felt like I was playing well,” Woods said after his round Sunday. “My score didn’t really indicate that going into the final day, but I was hitting the golf ball well and I’m frustrated at lipping more putts out than I think I have in a very long time. Just one of those weeks where just nothing really got rolling enough to get me going.”

Woods got his final round started in the right direction with a birdie on the par-5 second hole. He added two more birdies on Nos. 4 and 7, making the turn in 3-under 33. He picked up one more on the par-5 11th hole, but gave the shot back with a bogey on No. 14.

He avoided another potential blowup on the famed 17th hole when his tee shot stopped on the front fringe of the island green. Woods, who put two balls in the water in posting a quadruple-bogey seven on the hole Friday, was able to get up and down to save par.

“I was close to getting over the hurdle and getting things rolling, and unfortunately I made a seven over at 17 (on Friday),” Woods said. “I missed a few putts that I could have very easily got the momentum going that could have gotten me on a run.”

Woods also recorded a par on the final hole to close out his tournament.

Woods said this week that the neck injury that forced him to skip the Arnold Palmer Invitational is no longer an issue and he will next play in the WGC-Match Play at Austin, Texas, in two weeks as he takes aim at The Masters on April 11-14.

“I’m guaranteed to play three (rounds at the WGC-Match Play) instead of when I played it was only one guaranteed, so that’s kind of nice knowing that I’ll be able to get at least three good rounds in, possibly more if I play well, and that’s basically like a tournament,” Woods said.

–Field Level Media

Source: OANN

NOW ON AIR
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Maga First News with Peter Boykin

8:00 am 9:00 am



FILE PHOTO: File photo of a Chevron gas station sign in Del Mar, California
FILE PHOTO: A Chevron gas station sign is seen in Del Mar, California, in this April 25, 2013 file photo. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

April 26, 2019

(Reuters) – U.S. oil and natural gas producer Chevron Corp reported a 27 percent fall in quarterly earnings on Friday, hit by lower crude prices and weaker margins in its refining and chemicals businesses.

Net income attributable to the company fell to $2.65 billion, or $1.39 per share, for the first quarter ended March 31, from $3.64 billion, or $1.90 per share, a year earlier.

Earlier in the day, larger rival Exxon Mobil Corp reported earnings well below analysts’ estimates, as margins in its refining business were hurt by higher Canadian prices and heavy scheduled maintenance.

(Reporting by Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)

Source: OANN

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FILE PHOTO: Ford logo is seen at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan
FILE PHOTO: The Ford logo is seen at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., January 15, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

April 26, 2019

(Reuters) – Ford Motor Co said on Friday the U.S. Department of Justice had opened a criminal investigation into the automaker’s emissions certification process in the United States.

The potential concern does not involve the use of defeat devices, the company said in a regulatory filing. (https://bit.ly/2VqjHpl)

Ford had voluntarily disclosed the matter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board in February.

(Reporting by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by James Emmanuel)

Source: OANN

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Hundreds of Cuban migrants are reported to be on the run Friday in Mexico after a crowd of more than 1,000 burst out of a troubled immigration detention center on its southern border.

Mexico’s National Immigration Institute said the mass escape Thursday in Tapachula – which the Associated Press called the largest in recent memory — involved around 1,300 Cuban migrants, although 700 of them have since returned voluntarily.

The migrants reportedly streamed out of the compound without any resistance, as the institute said its agents weren’t armed and “there was no confrontation.”

Federal police with riot shields later rushed in to control the situation, as a crowd of angry Cubans whose relatives were being held at the facility gathered outside. The Cubans claimed their relatives reported overcrowding and unsanitary conditions at the facility.

A Federal Police officer stands guard outside an immigration detention center in Tapachula, Chiapas state, Mexico, late Thursday, following a breakout.

A Federal Police officer stands guard outside an immigration detention center in Tapachula, Chiapas state, Mexico, late Thursday, following a breakout. (AP)

BORDER PATROL UNION CHIEF BLASTS CONGRESS OVER MIGRANT CARAVANS: ‘WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT’?

“My wife and child have been in there for 27 days in bad conditions,” said Usmoni Velazquez Vallejo, as he waited outside for news. “There is overcrowding, insufficient food and there isn’t even medicine for them.”

Another Cuban detainee told the AFP: “We have many there… we are very tight, we sleep on the floor.”

It’s the third time since October that migrants at the facility staged an uprising, according to the news agency.

The center’s holding capacity is officially listed at less than 1,000 people, but the escape of 1,300 meant it was probably at least at double its capacity, since not everyone being held there escaped. Residents in the area said that sometimes the facility has held as many as 3,000 people, and a Mexican newspaper cited by Reuters said Haitians and Central Americans also are among the large group who still have not been tracked down.

Migrants wait for their transfer from an immigration detention center in Tapachula, Chiapas state, Mexico, on Thursday.

Migrants wait for their transfer from an immigration detention center in Tapachula, Chiapas state, Mexico, on Thursday. (AP)

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Earlier in the day, Mexico’s top human rights official toured the facility.

Elsewhere in the country, a new caravan estimated to contain up to 10,000 migrants is making its way to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: Fox News World

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Logo of the Exxon Mobil Corp is seen at the Rio Oil and Gas Expo and Conference in Rio de Janeiro
FILE PHOTO: A logo of the Exxon Mobil Corp is seen at the Rio Oil and Gas Expo and Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil September 24, 2018. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes

April 26, 2019

(Reuters) – Exxon Mobil Corp on Friday reported first-quarter profit fell sharply on lower oil and gas prices and weakness in its refining and chemicals businesses that offset modest production gains.

The largest U.S. oil producer’s first quarter earnings fell to $2.35 billion, or 55 cents a share, from $4.65 billion, or $1.09 a share, a year ago.

Analysts had expected Exxon to earn 70 cents per share, according to Refinitiv Eikon estimates.

Shares were trading down about 2.7 percent in premarket trading on Friday.

Exxon’s oil equivalent production rose 2 percent to 4 million barrels per day, up from 3.9 million bpd in the same period the year prior. The company said its output in the Permian Basin, the largest U.S. shale basin, rose 140 percent over a year ago.

(Reporting by Jennifer Hiller; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

Source: OANN

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The Washington Post’s media critic went into meltdown after White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders held a mock press briefing for the children of White House journalists and employees on Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day.

Erik Wemple, the newspaper’s chief media critic, slammed Sanders and the White House for organizing a fun day on Thursday for junior would-be journalists, while not holding an actual press conference for the record number of days.

WHITE HOUSE STAFF TO SKIP CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER AFTER LAST YEAR’S CONTROVERSY

Wemple wrote that Sanders gave to children an important lesson of “the centrality of nonaccountability mechanisms in the affairs of state” after she announced that the mock press briefing was “off the record.”

“When the children head home tonight, perhaps they can pull up archival footage to see how their questions stack up against ye olde press briefings,” he added.

“Accordingly, Sanders was doing more than just providing a fun interlude for the kids; she was headlining a reenactment, anchoring a bona fide historical site.”

— Erik Wemple

“Tuesday, after all, marked a record for number of days without a White House press briefing. Accordingly, Sanders was doing more than just providing a fun interlude for the kids; she was headlining a reenactment, anchoring a bona fide historical site.”

While some correspondents praised the White House for doing “a lot of work to welcome the children and provide “them an excellent experience,” other journalists echoed Wemple’s criticism and pointed out that Sanders hasn’t held a press briefing in over 40 days.

“Kids of WH Press Corps members are getting ready for a briefing with  @PressSec. Their parents have not had one in 45 days,” tweeted CBS News’ White House Correspondent Weijia Jiang.

REPORTER SHOUTS AT SARAH SANDERS AFTER BRIEFING: ‘DO YOUR JOB, SARAH!’

“The irony of it is that they’re pretending that the White House press briefing is a thing, and they’re pretending that this is how the White House operates, but this is not at all how the White House operates … It’s a relic of an earlier time,” another correspondent quoted by the Post said.

“The irony of it is that they’re pretending that the White House press briefing is a thing, and they’re pretending that this is how the White House operates, but this is not at all how the White House operates … It’s a relic of an earlier time.”

— a White HOuse Correspondent

The Post struck a different tune in a column earlier this year, which declared that despite the administration’s criticism of the media, President Trump was “extremely accessible.”

Wemple quoted Martha Joynt Kumar, director of the White House Transition Project, who said that Trump held 338 “short question-and-answer” sessions over his time in office, significantly more than 75 such sessions by former President Barack Obama during his first full two years in office.

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In terms of total instances of access to the media, which include interviews, short sessions, and news conferences, Trump was accessible least 577 times in his first two years in office.

Source: Fox News Politics

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