📆 What The Fuck is on the Calendar

[mouseam (Ashley)]

Today at 2:30pm EST
Senate Judiciary Sub-Committee Hearing: Extremist Content and Russian Disinformation Online - Working with Tech to Find Solutions

This will be the social media companies lawyer’s first appearance on the hill this week. Clint Watts (founder of Hamilton 68) will also be testifying.

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What You Should Know

• PBS: Hearing Overview & Livestream Link
• NYT: Meet the People Who Will Defend Google, Facebook and Twitter Before Lawmakers
• NYT: What to Watch for as Facebook, Twitter and Google Executives Testify on Capitol Hill

Securing Democracy’s overview of Russia’s disinformation war

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Updated: Here is an update of what we learned during today’s hearing

• CBS News’ Quick Recap: 5 things to know about the Senate social media hearing
• Recode’s In-Depth Coverage and Analysis

[mouseam (Ashley)]

Wednesday is a double header for Congressional #TechHearings with the social media companies!

• 9:30am EST / 6:30am PST: Senate Intelligence Committee Hearing on Social Media Influence in the 2016 U.S. Elections
• 2:00pm EST / 11:00am PST: Russia Investigative Task Force (House Intelligence Committee) Hearing with Social Media Companies

Watch both hearings via C-SPAN 3’s website, C-SPAN Facebook Live or listen on C-SPAN Radio app

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What You Should Know

• Learnings & Notes from Tuesday’s hearing:
  • Facebook ended up being the primary focus of the questioning during the hearing
  • Russian activity on Facebook after the election was aimed at “fomenting discord about the validity of election”
  • Facebook admitted that political ads bought by Russia were being paid for in rubles, that they probably should have caught
  • Hearing featured the first look at the fake Russian ads that were handed over to Congress
  • Twitter found 2,752 accounts associated with the known Russian troll farm, more than 10 times the number originally disclose
• Securing Democracy’s quick reference guide to Russia + Social media
• More about Tuesday’s hearing can be found here

Things to Watch For
Senator Mark Warner, who is the top Democrat on the Senate committee and former tech executive, wants to know the following:

• How did Russia use social media & search platforms to influence the 2016 election?
• How susceptible are these platforms to future disinformation campaigns waged by a small group of foreign hackers, trolls & bots?
• How do they plan to work with Congress to make sure this doesn’t happen again? (Specifically on legislation like the #HonestAds Act, which they have been hesitant on)

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Edit: Here is an update of what we learned during today’s hearing(s)

• The Atlantic’s 15 Things We Learned From the Tech Giants at the Senate Hearings
• Senate Intelligence Committee: Recode’s In-Depth Coverage and Analysis
• The House Intelligence Committee released the ads, etc received from the tech companies:
  • Facebook ads/events posted by fake Russian accounts: ads and metadata for ads
  • Russian Twitter bots used during the Election: a 65 page list

[MissJava]

I know there are plenty of good reasons to keep hearings closed, but hot damn I wish these were all open. I need catharsis! Even tho I know it would in all actuality only make me more ragey.

[matt (Matt Kiser)]

I love this section of the WTForum! This should be part of a daily briefing / on tap sort of thing.

[mouseam (Ashley)]

@matt

I love this section of the WTForum! This should be part of a daily briefing / on tap sort of thing.

Love it!

There has been alot with all the congressional hearings, so it’s been straight forward – is there anything else that I’m missing or should add?

[mouseam (Ashley)]

@mouseam

Thurs, 11/2: Ike Kaveladze, one of the attendees of “the” Trump Tower meeting, who worked for the Russian oligarch who sought to broker that meeting to testify behind closed doors with the House Intelligence Committee.

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@mouseam

Thurs, 11/2: Carter Page is testifying at a hearing the House Intelligence Committee has called “open in a closed space” (closed hearing, but transcript to be released 3 days after)

Be on the lookout early next week for the transcript of today’s hearing with Carter Page. He spent 7 hours in a closed door hearing today, without a lawyer and he uh…one could say he doesn’t interview well. It should be good read!

Edit: Link to the transcript

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Also, the main calendars post has been updated with upcoming events!

[mouseam (Ashley)]

@mouseam

Fri, 11/3 - Mon, 11/13: Trump in Vietnam for APEC Summit and will be visiting Japan, South Korea, China and the Philippines

Trump’s Asia Trip: Fri, 11/3 – Sat, 11/11

Due to the time zone difference (+16hrs) while Trump is in Asia, the Daycare staff is likely to be off during the below local time frames (aka the times when Trump is alone with his phone/Twitter):

• 1pm - 5pm EST
• 10am - 2pm PST

Preparation for the trip seems to be going just fine so far.

[celena]

Does this mean Monday? (3 days after Thursday)

[mouseam (Ashley)]

Monday or Tuesday, depends on if they count Thursday as day one. Given that they did interview him for 5 hrs, my best guess is Tuesday.

[mouseam (Ashley)]

Tomorrow!

@mouseam

Tues, 11/7: Keith Schiller, a recently departed long-time adviser to Trump and who was responsible for delivering Comey’s termination letter, is expected to testify; type of hearing unknown.

Trump’s ‘loyal lieutenant’ to testify on 2013 Russia visit (Politico)

Former body man Keith Schiller, who used to satisfy the president’s fast-food cravings, will head to the Hill to answer questions about Trump’s visit to the Miss Universe pageant.

No hearings are currently listed on the House Intelligence Committee’s website, so assuming this will be a closed hearing.

[mouseam (Ashley)]

Today is Election Day!

Here’s a few handy guides for following today’s elections:

• How to watch election night 2017, hour by hour – WaPo
• What to Watch as Virginia and New Jersey Votes Are Tallied – WSJ
• 15 elections you should be watching – POLITICO

Live Election Results via NYT: VA Governor | Other VA | New Jersey | New York | Utah’s 3rd District - Special | Maine Medicaid

[mouseam (Ashley)]

The results are starting to come in…! The AP has called the following:

VA Governor - Ralph Northam (!!!)
NJ Governor - Phil Murphy
Danica Roem becomes the first transgender person elected to a state legislature nationwide! (VA - House of Delegates)
Democrats have won the majority in WA state senate! Democrats now control every state legislative body and governorship on the West Coast!
Republicans keep control of UT-03 (Jason Chaffetz’s seat)
Maine passes the Medicaid expansion

This could be huge: as of right now, Democrats are on track to win the majority in the House of Delegates!

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The Day After - Election Day Recap

[MissJava]

I haven’t said “what the actual fuck” in a positive way in fucking forever!! What a night!

[mouseam (Ashley)]

I know, @MissJava! I was literally in tears last night!

https://twitter.com/i/moments/928262729873289216

[mouseam (Ashley)]

Tomorrow at 10am EST!

@mouseam

Wed, 11/14: Jeff Sessions to testify to the House Judiciary Committee (open hearing)

Sessions will be testifying in a general oversight hearing, however Democrats have already stated that they plan to ask about his inconsistent / contradictory statements about the Trump campaign’s relationship with Russia and are interested in more details regarding George Papadopoulos.

Watch the hearing on CSPAN tomorrow!

Note: this has been changed from a closed hearing (reported by Reuters) to a open hearing.

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@mouseam

Tues, 11/14: Senate Foreign Relations Committee (open hearing) - Authority to Order the Use of Nuclear Weapons

Senate Foreign Relations Committee to hold a hearing Tuesday on the president’s ability to authorize nuclear weapons, something lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have debated since President’s Donald Trump threatened North Korea with “fire and fury” in August. (PBS)

Watch the hearing on CSPAN or PBS tomorrow!

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Also, the main calendars post has been updated with upcoming events!

[mouseam (Ashley)]

Tomorrow at 2pm EST!

@mouseam

Wed, 11/15 2pm EST: Senate Foreign Relations Committee (open hearing) - Attacks on U.S. Diplomats in Cuba: Response and Oversight

Senate Foreign Relations Committee to hold a hearing regarding the sonic attacks of US Diplomats in Cuba. (Details)

Watch the hearing on CSPAN tomorrow!

[matt (Matt Kiser)]

Dec. 14. – FCC votes to kill the net neutrality rules

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-15/killing-net-neutrality-rules-is-said-readied-for-december-vote

[mouseam (Ashley)]

@mouseam

House Intelligence Committee
Week of 11/6-11/10: Glenn Simpson, the co-founder of Fusion GPS is expected to appear during this week, before the committee after being subpoenaed; type of hearing unknown.

It appears Glenn Simpson has testified - the leaks are starting…

Here are some of the notable articles that have emerged so far:

• CNN – Congress told Trump dossier sources not paid

[mouseam (Ashley)]

@mouseam

Thanksgiving Recess

• Mon, 11/20 - Sun, 11/26: Senate
• Mon, 11/20 - Mon, 11/27: House of Representatives

Congress’s Thanksgiving Recess starts today - see if your MoC is holding a townhall (or if they are MIA)!