Unfortunately the predictions of continued strengthening for Hurricane Laura have proven accurate. Hurricane Laura now holds sustained winds near 125 MPH with additional strengthening likely prior to landfall later tonight. This will makes Laura likely a Category-4 hurricane upon landfall.

[Comparison: Hurricane Charley – August 2004 / Hurricane Michael – Oct 2018]

All residents in the impact zone (approximately 70 miles in diameter) are urged to evacuate the coastal areas. Remember, you can hide from wind, but you cannot escape a dangerous storm surge. Take every precaution to protect your family.

[Hurricane Center] – At 1000 AM CDT (1500 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Laura was located near latitude 27.0 North, longitude 92.0 West. Laura is moving toward the northwest near 16 mph (26 km/h). A gradual turn toward the north-northwestward and north is expected later today and tonight. On the forecast track, Laura will approach the Upper Texas and southwest Louisiana coasts this evening and move inland within that area tonight. The center of Laura is forecast to move over northwestern Louisiana tomorrow, across Arkansas Thursday night, and over the mid-Mississippi Valley on Friday. (more)

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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

Kayleigh McEnany 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 †

First Lady Melania Trump delivers a terrific speech from the Rose Garden at the White House to close out the second night of the Republican National Convention.

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Nicholas Sandman has won undisclosed settlements against U.S. media outlets for their effort to smear him publicly in 2019.  Last night at the RNC convention, young Mr. Sandman had a message and the last word…

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President Trump’s son, Eric Trump, outlines the status of our nation and the contrast of ideas at the RNC national convention.  A passionate speech of American values.

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John Ponder: “[T]oday, I’m filled with hope. I have been given a second chance. My transformation began in a prison cell. I gave my life to Jesus. First person to help me was actually the FBI agent who arrested me, Rich Beasley. He is now a dear friend.

My hope for America is that all people regardless of race, color, class or background will take advantage of the fact that we live in a nation of second chances.”

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The Republican National Committee kicks-off the second night of the 2020 convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.  [RNC Convention Website Here]  For evening #2 the theme is “Land of Opportunity.”  You can follow the convention via a series of links to multiple media resources.

RNC Convention Facebook Link – RNC Convention Twitter Link

RNC Convention YouTube Link – RNC Multimedia Link

RNC Livestream – Trump Campaign Livestream – CSPAN Livestream – RSBN Livestream

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Carter Page appears on Fox News for an interview with Maria Bartiromo to discuss a book he is publishing about the DOJ and FBI targeting him for surveillance and identifying him as “an agent of a foreign government” in 2016 and 2017.

Interestingly, Page notes [@02:56] he had five interviews with the FBI in March of 2017, and he connects those interviews to the possibility of leaks to the Washington Post.  However, it would be interesting to find out the exact dates of those interviews because the FISA application identifying him, leaked by James Wolfe, was delivered to the SSCI on March 17, 2017, as a “read and return” document.  It was after March 17th when the Washington Post wrote the article mentioned by Carter Page.

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There is strong circumstantial evidence when the FISA application was delivered to the SSCI on March 17, 2017, that only James Wolfe and SSCI Vice-Chairman Mark Warner reviewed it.  First, it was “read and return”, back to the equity provider, FBI SSA Brian Dugan.  Second, if any other member of the SSCI had reviewed the application it’s doubtful they would have been requesting to review it in December ’17 and early ’18.  Common sense would indicate only Warner and Wolfe saw the application, and Warner never informed the committee of his review; hence their later requests.

Additionally, another unusual aspect to the FISA application delivery surrounds the 2018 letters written by Chairman Nunes (HPSCI) and Chairman Bob Goodlatte (House Judiciary) to presiding Judge Rosemary Collyer, where both chairman were being blocked by the special counsel from obtaining the FISA application and both were seeking to gain it from the FISA Court.

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The transcript of the oral arguments from the August 11th DC Circuit Appeals court has been released. [pdf available here].  The DC Circuit held a full panel hearing to decide the outcome of the unopposed DOJ & defense motion to drop the case against Michael Flynn.

You will remember Judge Sullivan injected himself into the case by approving an amicus to argue against dismissal; this led to a request by the Flynn defense for a writ of mandamus overriding Judge Sullivan.  Initially a three judge panel agreed with the writ giving Sullivan 30 days to dispose of the case; however, Sullivan appealed to the full panel (en banc).  The first appellate court ruling was stayed, and the full panel heard oral arguments earlier this month.  That transcript is below.

The panel of appellate judges included Judge Srinivasan, Judge Henderson, Judge Rogers, Judge Tatel, Judge Garland, Judge Griffith, Judge Millett, Judge Pillard, Judge Wilkins and Judge Rao.  However, with Judge Griffith retiring at the end of this month, it is likely the ruling will be announced very soon; could be this week.

Regardless of what decision is reached, the announcement should be anticipated prior to Judge Griffith being replaced by recently confirmed Trump nominee Judge Justin Walker.  That means we could see a decision announced this Friday, or by next Friday at the latest.

The judges could remove Judge Sullivan and reassign the case. In that event it’s likely the next judge would simply accept the motion to dismiss.  However, the DC circuit could also deliver a ruling that allows Sullivan to retain the final disposition with strong guidance on any subsequent activity.

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