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President Trump's new White House chief of staff has "got to protect" the Russia investigation from "continued assault" by the president, said former Hillary Clinton campaign chair John Podesta, who also served as chief of staff to President Bill Clinton at the end of his second term.

Podesta told "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz on Sunday that Trump's new chief of staff, Ret. Gen. John Kelly, is responsible for safeguarding the Justice Department and special counsel Robert Mueller, who heads the Russia probe, from interference by the White House.

"Maybe the most difficult thing he needs to do is ... protect the Justice Department, and he's got to protect Bob Mueller and the investigation that's going on there from the continued assault by the president and by the White House," Podesta said on "This Week."

"It's going to be his job to provide a bulwark against interference by the White House, which in the end of the day, [would] get them in more trouble rather than less, Podesta said.

The president has repeatedly publicly slammed Attorney General Jeff Sessions over his recusing himself from the federal investigation of Russia's interference in the 2016 election and possible ties to Trump associates. The attorney generals recusing himself ultimately led to the appointment of Mueller as special counsel.

At a press conference Tuesday, the president said he is "disappointed" in Sessions and that he wants the attorney general "to be much tougher on the leaks from intelligence agencies, which are leaking like rarely have they ever leaked before, at a very important level."

"We will see what happens. Time will tell. Time will tell," Trump added.

The president's public criticism has led some observers to question whether Trump might try to replace Sessions with an attorney general who could oversee the Russia probe and potentially remove Mueller.

That possibility has prompted warnings from some Republicans as well as Democrats.

Any effort to go after Mueller could be the beginning of the end of the Trump presidency, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said Thursday.

Beyond the Russia probe, Podesta said one question about Kelly's appointment as the new White House chief of staff is whether Trump will give the former general the authority fully do his job.

I have no doubt that the president has told him that he has full authority, Podesta said of Kelly. The real question is will he allow him to exercise it.

Excerpt from:
Trump's new chief of staff needs to 'protect' Russia investigation, Democrat says - ABC News

An outspoken Democratic critic of President Donald Trump's is leading the call for Vice President Mike Pence to become the next commander-in-chief. California Representative Maxine Waters, who has become an internet sensation among the left for her frank criticism of the president in recent months, tweeted Saturday: "Mike Pence is somewhere planning an inauguration. Priebus and Spicer will lead the transition."

Her tweet comes after former chief of staff Reince Priebus resigned from office Friday, a week after Sean Spicer left his post as press secretary. The men, both longtime insiders among the top ranks of the national Republican party, had apparently quarreled with the White House over the direction it was taking.

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Waters is no ordinary critic of the president. Herjabs at the president often go beyond any criticisms lobbied by other members of Congress, including her insistence that anunverified Russian blackmail dossier that claims Trump once encouraged prostitutes in Russia to engage in torid sex acts wasabsolutely true.

Waters also has urged members of Congress to start proceedings for Trump'simpeachment, an unlikely turn of events given that the Senate and House are controlled by Republicans and Trump has not been found guilty of any crimes.

Hes someone that Im committed to getting impeached! Waters said in May.Hes a liar! Hes a cheat! Hes a con man! Weve got to stop his ass.

Pence has remained loyal to the president as the White House has increasingly been accused of colluding with Russia to get Trump elected and of sabotaging policy efforts in Congress, including the failed campaign to overturn the Affordable Care Act passed by President Barack Obama. Most recently, Pence defended this week Trump's public waron Attorney General Jeff Sessions, telling Fox News' Tucker Carlson Tonightthat voters supportedthe president's "candor" when it comes to Sessions.

"I know the Washington way is to talk behind people's backs. But that's not President Donald Trump's approach," Pence said. "One of the great things about this president is you always know where you stand.

"I think one of the president's virtues is his candor," he added. "There's no attempt to hide his feelings. His expressed disappointment here is very sincere and he's said 'well, we'll see what happens in the future.' But at least the American people know and every member of the Cabinet can know that you'll always know where you stand with President Trump."

Trump has called Sessions "weak" and "beleaguered" afterthe former Alabama senatorrecused himself earlier this year from theongoing investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 presidential election.

In between defending the president's Twitter tirades, Pence has also continued to perform his duties as one of Trump's closest advisers. He arrived in Estonia on Sunday to meet with Estonian Prime MinisterJri Ratas and showsupport for NATO allies against possible Russian meddling in the region.

Imaging a future where Pence is president has become a new standard for some onthe left. Data site Five Thirty Eight mapped out the possibilities in a June article: "We cant know the exact circumstances that would lead to a President Pence, but there are various paths that could deliver him to the White House. There are the paths of human folly: Trump might resign after a scandal roars out of control, or be impeached, which could lead to his removal from office. (Unlikely if Republicans maintain their dominance in Congress.) Or forces of nature could wreak havoc on the Trump presidency: Trump could become mentally or physically incapacitated, leading to a transfer of power under the25th Amendment. Or he might die before completing his term."

Excerpt from:
Mike Pence Will Soon Be President With Help From Spicer, Priebus, Democrat Maxine Waters Tweets - Newsweek

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NATALIYA VASILYEVA

ASSOCIATED PRESS | July 30, 2017, 3:15PM

| Updated 4 hours ago.

MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday the United States would have to cut its embassy and consulate staff in Russia by 755 under new sanctions from Moscow.

Russians Foreign Ministry on Friday ordered a reduction by Sept. 1 in the number of U.S. diplomats in Russia. It said it is ordering the U.S. Embassy to limit the number of embassy and consular employees in the country to 455 in response to the U.S. Senates approval of a new package of sanctions.

We had hoped that the situation will somehow change, but apparently if it changes, it wont be soon, Putin said in an interview televised on Rossiya 1, explaining why Moscow decided to retaliate. I thought it was the time to show that were not going to leave it without an answer.

Putin said more than 1,000 people are currently employed at the Moscow embassy and three U.S. consulates in Russia. They include both Americans and Russians hired to work in the diplomatic offices.

Russia is open to cooperating with the U.S. on various issues including terrorism and cybercrime but instead it only hears unfounded accusations of meddling in U.S. domestic affairs, the Russian leader said.

Asked about the potential for additional sanctions against Washington, Putin described the reduction in diplomatic staff as painful and said he currently opposes further measures.

We certainly have something to respond with and restrict those areas of joint cooperation that will be painful for the American side but I dont think we need to do it, he said, adding that such steps could also harm Russian interests.

Putin mentioned space and energy as the main areas where Russia and the United States have successfully pursued projects together.

Along with the cap on the size of its diplomatic corps in Russia, the Russian foreign ministry on Friday said it also was closing down a U.S. recreational retreat on the outskirts of Moscow as well as warehouse facilities.

The diplomatic tit-for-tat started under former U.S. President Barack Obama. In response to reports of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, Obama ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and shut down two Russian recreational retreats in the U.S.

AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed.

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Putin retaliates against US diplomats - Santa Rosa Press Democrat

CLARK MASON

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT | July 30, 2017, 5:41PM

| Updated 22 minutes ago.

Northern California is heating up this week with some unseasonably high temperatures that prompted the National Weather Service to issue a hazardous weather outlook for parts of San Francisco Bay and an excessive heat watch in other areas.

The hottest day of the week is forecast to be Tuesday, when the mercury will hit 96 in Santa Rosa; 105 in Cloverdale and perhaps close to 110 in parts of Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties. The excessive heat watch is in effect for those areas through Wednesday, when those highs are expected to dip by just a few degrees. Increasingly warm overnight lows are expected.

It will be very warm starting (Monday). It will last into the week and possibly next weekend, meteorologist Brian Mejia said Sunday, adding that a ridge of high pressure building over Northern California and northeast Nevada is to blame.

Fire danger is always an issue this time of year, but the relative humidity is not projected to be critically low.

It will be dry, but not overwhelmingly dry, he said. Winds are not expected to be really gusty.

Parts of northern Napa County near Lake Berryessa could be flirting with close to 110 degrees on Tuesday, as well as Ukiah and Hopland in Mendocino County, according to the Weather Service. Sacramento could hit 115.

Officials said the heat can lead to stress and exhaustion, especially for the elderly and at-risk populations, as well as those engaging in outdoor activities.

People and pets should never be left inside a parked vehicle.

Even 15 minutes in a hot car can be devastating to a child, Mejia said.

Slight cooling is expected by Thursday, but very warm to hot conditions are forecast to persist through the end of the week.

There will be respite closer to the ocean.

Expect onshore flow to continue, he said. It will be much cooler than inland. The beach and along the coast will be in the 60s to 70s.

You can reach Staff Writer Clark Mason at 707-521-5214 or clark.mason@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@clarkmas.

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Northern California expecting hotter days this week - Santa Rosa Press Democrat

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

ASSOCIATED PRESS | July 30, 2017, 7:09PM

| Updated 30 minutes ago.

LOS ANGELES A van plowed into a group of people dining on a Los Angeles sidewalk Sunday afternoon, striking and injuring at least eight people.

A witness told the Associated Press the van jumped a curb and careened into a group of people eating outside The Fish Spot restaurant in the citys Mid-Wilshire neighborhood. The vehicle knocked down a white picket fence that served as a barrier between diners and pedestrians on the sidewalk.

Everyone was eating, enjoying life and out of nowhere this van ran them over, Courtney Crump said.

He said several victims were pinned under the van as panicked witnesses rush to pull them out. A man who was the first person struck by van had severe head injuries, Crump said.

I heard loud, agonizing screams. Im shook up, he said.

The victims included a 44-year-old man who suffered critical injuries, three who were seriously hurt and four others who were taken to the hospital in fair condition, Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said.

An off-duty firefighter with the department was in the crowd and did not sustain major injuries, she said.

The driver came out of the van and appeared disoriented, Crump said. He jumped back into the van, prompting witnesses to hold him until authorities arrived at the scene.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Los Angeles police spokesman Josh Rubenstein said the crash appeared to be an accident, adding that there was no indication the driver intentionally drove into the crowd.

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Van strikes diners on LA sidewalk, 8 injured - Santa Rosa Press Democrat