1. ‘Fake news’
Donald Trump dismissed as ‘fake news’ a private intelligence dossier (including descriptions of Moscow hotel bedroom scenes) on his alleged Russia ties. The dossier was published for the first time on Tuesday after being passed last year to the FBI.
Summary
It’s all fake news, it’s phony stuff, it didn’t happen … It was a group of opponents that got together, sick people, and they put that crap together.
– Donald Trump
2. FBI applied to monitor Trump aides
The Guardian has learned that the FBI applied for a warrant from the foreign intelligence surveillance (Fisa) court over the summer in order to monitor four members of the Trump team suspected of irregular contacts with Russian officials.
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4. Trump sons to run business empire
Trump claimed he’d build a wall between himself and his business interests, which he said would be managed by his sons. “At the end of eight years ... if they do a bad job, I’ll say: ‘You’re fired,’” Trump joked. Ha.
Will it prevent conflicts of interest?
5. Trump admits Russian hacking
In a sudden about-face, Trump said “as far as hacking” during the presidential election, “I think it was Russia – but I think we also get hacked by other countries and other people.”
Summary
If [Vladimir] Putin likes Donald Trump, guess what folks, that’s called an asset not a liability. Now, I don’t know if I’m going to get along with Vladimir Putin. I hope I do. But there’s a good chance that I won’t. And if I don’t, do you honestly believe that Hillary would be tougher on Putin than me? … Give me a break.
– Donald Trump
6. Tillerson takes tough questions
At his confirmation hearing, secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson, the former ExxonMobil CEO, awkwardly resisted calling Putin a “war criminal” and refused to discuss his company’s record on climate change.
7. Congressmen testify against Sessions
Senator Cory Booker and Congressman John Lewis spoke out against Jeff Sessions, Trump’s attorney general nominee, questioning his commitment to racial justice and equal rights. Sessions appears on track for confirmation.
Summary
.@repjohnlewis on Sessions: "We need someone as attorney general who's going to look out for all of us, not just for some of us." pic.twitter.com/1vObr5FkJS
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) January 11, 2017
... and another thing:
Under-covered news conf moment: Trump still discussing business deals; said "over the weekend" he was offered $2B Dubai deal, turned it down pic.twitter.com/HO4s3wUo9M
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) January 11, 2017
... and another thing:
Fire breaks out at Watergate Hotelhttps://t.co/h4roBpVP91 pic.twitter.com/w2o5YX6oGG
— The Hill (@thehill) January 11, 2017