Trump’s tweets aren’t rocketing like they used to

Trump’s tweets aren’t rocketing like they used to

WASHINGTON

His “FAKE NEWS” tweets don’t rocket like they once did. His exclamation points (!) don’t excite quite the same old way.

Donald Trump’s 140-character volleys helped define the first 100 days of his presidency. But the traction on his medium of choice has slipped a bit as his tone and button-pushing tendencies have cooled.

The number of people engaging with Trump on Twitter – through likes, retweets, quotes and replies – has gradually declined, according to an Associated Press analysis of his feed and the users who read, react and propel his words throughout the Twittersphere.

The analysis was conducted in partnership with the media analytics nonprofit Cortico.

Pope brings a message of peace amid crackdown

CAIRO

Pope Francis demanded that Egypt’s Muslim leaders teach a rejection of violence in God’s name during a delicate visit Friday to the Arab world’s most populous country, and he strongly backed its uncompromising crackdown on political Islam and militancy.

Brushing off security concerns after a series of attacks by Islamic militants on Egypt’s Coptic Christians, Francis rode through Cairo in a simple blue Fiat with his window rolled down – not the armored “popemobiles” of his predecessors.

And at every stop on his first day, he issued variations on the same hard-hitting theme: “No civilized society can be built without repudiating every ideology of evil, violence and extremism that presumes to suppress others and to annihilate diversity by manipulating and profaning the sacred name of God.”

Focus turns to senator with doctor guilty of fraud

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.

A prominent Florida eye doctor accused of political corruption was convicted of Medicare fraud Friday, increasing the odds that federal prosecutors could pressure him to testify against New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez.

Dr. Salomon Melgen faces 15 to 20 years in prison on 67 counts, including health care fraud, submitting false claims and falsifying records in patients’ files, unless he offers or accepts a deal before his sentencing, scheduled for July 14.

The senator denies any wrongdoing.

Lobbying firm registers as a foreign agent

WASHINGTON

A Washington lobbying firm that worked under the direction of two former campaign aides to President Donald Trump has registered with the Justice Department as a foreign agent.

The registration Friday by Mercury LLC comes as the Justice Department waits for Paul Manafort, the former Trump campaign chairman, to file as a foreign agent and disclose his role in influencing U.S. policy and public opinion on behalf of the pro-Russian Ukrainian Party of Regions and its leader, former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

A spokesman for Manafort said Friday that he was wrong when he told the AP this month that Manafort would register with the Justice Department. He said Manafort is considering his options.

The Associated Press reported in August that Manafort’s consulting firm covertly orchestrated the lobbying operation.

Associated Press