1. O-pposed
In reply to a Donald Trump travel ban announced on Friday, a spokesman said that former president Barack Obama “fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion”.
'American values at stake'
Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organize and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake.
– Barack Obama spokesman Kevin Lewis
2. Backlash grows
As mass demonstrations and legal challenges to the ban mounted, a draft memo circulated around foreign missions strongly dissented against Trump’s executive order. “We are better than this ban,” the memo said.
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5. Bannon security seat challenged
The formal inclusion of Steve Bannon, Trump’s chief strategist and ideologue, in the small circle of top officials who decide US national security policy, sparked alarm among former officials.
6. White House: Obama did it first
The White House justified the Bannon move by saying that Obama political adviser David Axelrod had sat in on security council meetings.
Axelrod demurs
I never sat on NSC principals comm. I sat on sidelines as observer on some issues 2 gain an understanding of decisions. Bannon's new ground.
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) January 29, 2017
… and another thing:
Spicer, asked about 5 yr-old: "To assume that just b/c of someone's age or gender or whatever that they don't pose a threat would be wrong"
— Josh Eidelson (@josheidelson) January 30, 2017
