Just prior to the congressional charity baseball game tonight, a message from President Donald Trump was broadcast to the crowd of approximately 23,000 in attendance.

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Tonight the members of Congress take part in this year’s Congressional Baseball Game for charity at Nationals Park in Washington D.C.   This years game takes on an added dimension following the hate-filled shooting of the Republican players during practice yesterday morning by a rabid left-wing Bernie Sanders campaign worker.

The game is being broadcast on CSPAN1 and there’s a few livestream’s available:

PBS Livestream Link – Alternate Livestream Link #1 – Alternate Livestream #2 – FOX10 Livestream Link – Alternate Livestream (With Audio)

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Intensely successful leaders, the ones of serious consequence, listen intently to the voices of people closest to the work before embarking on transformation. The expertise is always closest to the work. The most successful titans of industry have always kept themselves deeply connected to the actual work.

[VIA Mike Rowe] Barry Stout‎ writes… OMG did you have a chat with the President and Ivanka? I was just listening to the announcement and presser about 6 million open jobs in the country…Who knew?!

Ken Lucke writes… Did you write the comments for Sec. Acosta this morning? He sounded almost like you in his push for apprenticeship and vocational training. Your thoughts?

Sean Brink‎ writes… Thought I’d share this article with you, in case you hadn’t seen it. Sounds encouraging towards your pursuit. Ivanka Trump: CEOs can’t fill 6 million jobs, more skill-based training needed.

Gentlemen:

It’s been very gratifying, (and maybe a little vindicating,) to hear so much talk about the skills gap over the last 48 hours. To answer your question, Barry, yes – I did meet with some people from The White House a few weeks ago.

I happened to be in DC when I got an email inviting me to discuss mikeroweWORKS with the Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Public Liaison. George Sifakis and his team were kind enough to meet me at my hotel in Georgetown, where I shared with them my belief that closing the skills gap will only happen if we reinvigorate the trades, and make a more persuasive case for the jobs themselves.

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While the MSM continues selling the various pitches and talking points of their DC-based deep state operations, the Trump administration continues driving forward on the primary issues that matter to ordinary Americans.

(Via Secretary Tom Price) Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, M.D., hosted a listening session with Seema Verma, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and medical and healthcare professionals to discuss the challenges that patients and providers face under our current healthcare system.

Secretary Price began the meeting by voicing his thoughts and prayers for Majority Whip Steve Scalise and other victims of the attack yesterday morning. He expressed his gratitude to the U.S. Capitol Police and to those who protect us every day for their bravery and willingness to serve. Administrator Verma and Doctors Raymond DeCorte and Joe Uddo, two constituents of Majority Whip Scalise, echoed these thoughts.

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“It’s been much more difficult than people even thought at the time. It’s been — [Steve Scalise] is in some trouble, but he is a great fighter and he is going to be OK, we hope.” … “I have a feeling that Steve has made a great sacrifice, but there could be some unity being brought to our country. Let’s hope so.”

~ President Donald Trump

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise underwent a third surgery this morning following his shooting injury sustained at the Republican baseball team’s practice in Alexandria, VA. Doctors at MedStar Washington Hospital Center said the Louisiana Republican remained in critical condition, and they began a third operation.

According to medical professionals multiple surgeries in this context are not unusual. There are multiple vital organs in the pathway of the bullet and surgeons are often checking to ensure prior procedures to repair damage are holding.  Rep. Scalise faces a long path of treatment and recovery ahead and remains in critical condition.

Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen visited the Scalise family at the hospital Thursday morning, but did not provide additional information about his condition.

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A little funny. OK, well, more than a little.  Russian President Vladimir Putin is trolling...

Secretary Tillerson – On behalf of President Trump and the American people, I congratulate all the people of Russia on the occasion of this year’s “Day of Russia.”

The relationship between the United States and Russia stretches back to the early days of our republic. Today, our countries share unique responsibilities to uphold international peace and stability, and to cooperate on issues of global importance. We believe we can best do so when we stand together to support the fundamental values of human dignity and freedom.

As you celebrate the Day of Russia, know the United States stands with you in honoring your independence as a nation rich in tradition and full of possibilities. (link)

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U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson addresses the Conference on Prosperity and Security in Central America in Miami.

[Transcript] SECRETARY TILLERSON: Well, thank you, Jorge, for that most kind introduction, and also in particular, I want to thank Florida International University for providing their campus and the host site for this conference, which we have been planning for some time and very excited to get it underway.

I also want to thank Foreign Secretary Videgaray, Secretary Osorio, the Government of Mexico for co-hosting this conference, along with my colleague, Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary Kelly.

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Today President Donald Trump signed an executive order authorizing a program to create investment in private companies designing apprenticeship programs meant to fill some of the 6 million open jobs in the U.S.  Trump signed an executive order to roughly double to $200 million the taxpayer money spent on learn-to-earn programs. The money would come from existing job training programs within the Labor Department.

“We’re training people to have great jobs and high paying jobs,” Trump said at a White House ceremony. “We’re here today to celebrate the dignity of work and the greatness of the American worker.”

President Trump is directing the government to review and streamline some 43 workforce programs across 13 agencies.  Mr. Trump was reluctant to spend more federal funds on apprenticeships, so the financial boost is designed to come from existing money.

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In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

President Trump Twitter @POTUS / Vice President Pence Twitter @VP

Sean Spicer Twitter @PressSec

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †