RUSSIA/РОССИЯ THREAD—ASSANGE CHRGD W/ SPYING—DJT IMPEACHED TWICE-US TREASURY SANCTS KILIMNIK AS RUSSIAN AGNT
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88m3
Fast Money & Foreign Objects
ThinkProgress
18 mins ·
This is an absolutely unreal interview --->
Senator offers bizarre defense of Russia’s election meddling
Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) also thinks Russia's pro-Trump efforts hurt both Trump and Clinton equally
THINKPROGRESS.ORG
18 mins ·
This is an absolutely unreal interview --->
Senator offers bizarre defense of Russia’s election meddling
Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) also thinks Russia's pro-Trump efforts hurt both Trump and Clinton equally
THINKPROGRESS.ORG
:conceitedsideeye:
Mercer Bannon Milo. All finished after today.
Tony D'Amato
It's all about the inches
...
dude cut off the funding
Robert Mercer to Step Down as Co-Chief of Renaissance Technologies
Robert Mercer to Step Down as Co-Chief of Renaissance Technologies
By MATTHEW GOLDSTEIN and KATE KELLYNOV. 2, 2017
Robert Mercer of Renaissance Technologies hedge fund in Washington in March. A patron of the former White House aide Stephen K. Bannon, he said he would sell his stake in Breitbart News, Mr. Bannon’s media platform, to his daughters. Oliver Contreras/for The Washington Post, via Getty Images
Robert Mercer, a billionaire investor who is a big financial backer of many conservative causes and a patron of the former White House adviser Stephen K. Bannon, is stepping down as co-chief executive of Renaissance Technologies, the giant hedge fund.
Mr. Mercer sent a letter to investors and pension advisers on Thursday morning in which he said he would step down. A copy of the letter was reviewed by The New York Times.
In the letter, Mr. Mercer said he was stepping down from his post as of Jan. 1, 2018, and would also leave the hedge fund’s board. He said he would remain active on the research side of the hedge-fund firm, which makes trades using complex mathematical equations.
The one-paragraph letter to investors did not give a reason for Mr. Mercer’s decision. His involvement in conservative politics became a lightning rod for criticism during and after the presidential election.
But in a letter to the employees of the hedge fund, with the subject line “past, present, and future,” Mr. Mercer acknowledged the public scrutiny he has faced since Mr. Trump’s election.
Describing himself as a fan of small government, he sought to distance himself from polarizing figures, including Mr. Bannon. “I have great respect for Mr. Bannon, and from time to time I do discuss politics with him,” Mr. Mercer wrote. “However, I make my own decisions with respect to whom I support politically. Those decisions do not always align with Mr. Bannon’s.”
Mr. Bannon now works at Breitbart News, a conservative news outlet that has been funded in part by Mr. Mercer. In the letter on Thursday, Mr. Mercer said that he was selling his stake in Breitbart to his daughters “for personal reasons.”
Mr. Mercer couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
Beyond donating to political campaigns, Mr. Mercer was a large financial backer of Cambridge Analytica, a voter-data firm that worked with the presidential campaign of President Trump.
The hedge fund, commonly known as RenTech, was founded by James Simons, a prominent supporter of Democratic causes and candidates, including Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Mr. Mercer, a former computer coder who worked at I.B.M. before moving to Renaissance, is known for being shy and idiosyncratic. A model-train aficionado, he hosts a well-known holiday costume party at his Long Island estate — known as Owl’s Nest — that has attracted guests including, last year, Mr. Trump and his top advisers.
Honoring the ultimate hero at the Mercer "Heroes and Villians" party on Long Island. Crowd thrilled w/ surprise! pic.twitter.com/VQAyaKvs6i
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) Dec. 4, 2016
Renaissance manages more than $50 billion in assets. Its main funds that are open to outside investors have been doing well this year, with each of them up more than 10 percent through October.
Robert Mercer to Step Down as Co-Chief of Renaissance Technologies
By MATTHEW GOLDSTEIN and KATE KELLYNOV. 2, 2017
Robert Mercer of Renaissance Technologies hedge fund in Washington in March. A patron of the former White House aide Stephen K. Bannon, he said he would sell his stake in Breitbart News, Mr. Bannon’s media platform, to his daughters. Oliver Contreras/for The Washington Post, via Getty Images
Robert Mercer, a billionaire investor who is a big financial backer of many conservative causes and a patron of the former White House adviser Stephen K. Bannon, is stepping down as co-chief executive of Renaissance Technologies, the giant hedge fund.
Mr. Mercer sent a letter to investors and pension advisers on Thursday morning in which he said he would step down. A copy of the letter was reviewed by The New York Times.
In the letter, Mr. Mercer said he was stepping down from his post as of Jan. 1, 2018, and would also leave the hedge fund’s board. He said he would remain active on the research side of the hedge-fund firm, which makes trades using complex mathematical equations.
The one-paragraph letter to investors did not give a reason for Mr. Mercer’s decision. His involvement in conservative politics became a lightning rod for criticism during and after the presidential election.
But in a letter to the employees of the hedge fund, with the subject line “past, present, and future,” Mr. Mercer acknowledged the public scrutiny he has faced since Mr. Trump’s election.
Describing himself as a fan of small government, he sought to distance himself from polarizing figures, including Mr. Bannon. “I have great respect for Mr. Bannon, and from time to time I do discuss politics with him,” Mr. Mercer wrote. “However, I make my own decisions with respect to whom I support politically. Those decisions do not always align with Mr. Bannon’s.”
Mr. Bannon now works at Breitbart News, a conservative news outlet that has been funded in part by Mr. Mercer. In the letter on Thursday, Mr. Mercer said that he was selling his stake in Breitbart to his daughters “for personal reasons.”
Mr. Mercer couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
Beyond donating to political campaigns, Mr. Mercer was a large financial backer of Cambridge Analytica, a voter-data firm that worked with the presidential campaign of President Trump.
The hedge fund, commonly known as RenTech, was founded by James Simons, a prominent supporter of Democratic causes and candidates, including Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Mr. Mercer, a former computer coder who worked at I.B.M. before moving to Renaissance, is known for being shy and idiosyncratic. A model-train aficionado, he hosts a well-known holiday costume party at his Long Island estate — known as Owl’s Nest — that has attracted guests including, last year, Mr. Trump and his top advisers.
Honoring the ultimate hero at the Mercer "Heroes and Villians" party on Long Island. Crowd thrilled w/ surprise! pic.twitter.com/VQAyaKvs6i
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) Dec. 4, 2016
Renaissance manages more than $50 billion in assets. Its main funds that are open to outside investors have been doing well this year, with each of them up more than 10 percent through October.
Analytica messing with the sovereignty of nations. 
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Wait he's selling his stake to his daughter. The evil one. 
Already an action packed day.Mueller the gawd. 
http://www.businessinsider.com/robert-mercer-leaving-rentech-breitbart-news-2017-11
Major right-wing donor Bob Mercer is stepping down as co-CEO of his hedge fund and selling his stake in Breitbart
Maxwell Tani
Republican political strategists Nick Ayers and Kellyanne Conway with Rebekah Mercer at Trump Tower in 2016. Drew Angerer/Getty Images
In a letter to employees obtained by Business Insider, Mercer said he had become an object of press scrutiny in the past year, referencing his activity as a major conservative donor. The hedge-fund founder had previously stayed mum about his political beliefs.
"During the past year, I have been the object of a great deal of scrutiny from the press," he wrote. "I have declined to comment on what has been written about me, imagining that with time the attention would dissipate. Because that has yet to happen, I have decided to correct some of the misinformation that has been published about me. It is not my intention to impose the views I describe below on anyone else."
In addition to leaving his position at Rentech, Mercer announced in the letter that he will also sell his stake in the far-right news website Breitbart News to his daughters — including Rebekah Mercer, a major Republican donor who served on the executive committee of President Donald Trump's transition team.
Mercer did not give a reason for his departure. But in the letter, he sought to distance himself from some polarizing figures with whom he has become associated, including former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, who now again heads Breitbart, and the right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulous.
"The press has also intimated that my politics marches in lockstep with Steve Bannon's. I have great respect for Mr. Bannon, and from time to time I do discuss politics with him. However, I make my own decisions with respect to whom I support politically. Those decisions do not always align with Mr. Bannon's," he said.
Of Yiannopoulos, he said: "I supported Milo Yiannopoulos in the hope and expectation that his expression of views contrary to the social mainstream and his spotlighting of the hypocrisy of those who would close down free speech in the name of political correctness would promote the type of open debate and freedom of thought that is being throttled on many American college campuses today. But in my opinion, actions of and statements by Mr. Yiannopoulos have caused pain and divisiveness undermining the open and productive discourse that I had hoped to facilitate. I was mistaken to have supported him, and for several weeks have been in the process of severing all ties with him."
Mercer said he would step down as co-CEO and from the hedge fund's board. He said he would continue to contribute to the research side of the firm. Mercer has also been a significant financial backer of Cambridge Analytica, the data analytics firm that worked with the Trump campaign and has come under scrutiny in investigations into Russian election meddling.
This story will be updated.
Major right-wing donor Bob Mercer is stepping down as co-CEO of his hedge fund and selling his stake in Breitbart
Maxwell Tani
- Major Republican donor Robert Mercer is stepping down as co-CEO of the hedge fund Renaissance Technologies.
- Mercer is also selling his stake in Breitbart News.
- In a letter to employees, he sought to distance himself from polarizing figures like Steve Bannon and Milo Yiannopoulous.
In a letter to employees obtained by Business Insider, Mercer said he had become an object of press scrutiny in the past year, referencing his activity as a major conservative donor. The hedge-fund founder had previously stayed mum about his political beliefs.
"During the past year, I have been the object of a great deal of scrutiny from the press," he wrote. "I have declined to comment on what has been written about me, imagining that with time the attention would dissipate. Because that has yet to happen, I have decided to correct some of the misinformation that has been published about me. It is not my intention to impose the views I describe below on anyone else."
In addition to leaving his position at Rentech, Mercer announced in the letter that he will also sell his stake in the far-right news website Breitbart News to his daughters — including Rebekah Mercer, a major Republican donor who served on the executive committee of President Donald Trump's transition team.
Mercer did not give a reason for his departure. But in the letter, he sought to distance himself from some polarizing figures with whom he has become associated, including former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, who now again heads Breitbart, and the right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulous.
"The press has also intimated that my politics marches in lockstep with Steve Bannon's. I have great respect for Mr. Bannon, and from time to time I do discuss politics with him. However, I make my own decisions with respect to whom I support politically. Those decisions do not always align with Mr. Bannon's," he said.
Of Yiannopoulos, he said: "I supported Milo Yiannopoulos in the hope and expectation that his expression of views contrary to the social mainstream and his spotlighting of the hypocrisy of those who would close down free speech in the name of political correctness would promote the type of open debate and freedom of thought that is being throttled on many American college campuses today. But in my opinion, actions of and statements by Mr. Yiannopoulos have caused pain and divisiveness undermining the open and productive discourse that I had hoped to facilitate. I was mistaken to have supported him, and for several weeks have been in the process of severing all ties with him."
Mercer said he would step down as co-CEO and from the hedge fund's board. He said he would continue to contribute to the research side of the firm. Mercer has also been a significant financial backer of Cambridge Analytica, the data analytics firm that worked with the Trump campaign and has come under scrutiny in investigations into Russian election meddling.
Read the full letter:
"During the past year, I have been the object of a great deal of scrutiny from the press. I have declined to comment on what has been written about me, imagining that with time the attention would dissipate. Because that has yet to happen, I have decided to correct some of the misinformation that has been published about me. It is not my intention to impose the views I describe below on anyone else.
"My goal is simply to explain my thinking, the very essence of which is that all of us should think for ourselves.
"I believe that individuals are happiest and most fulfilled when they form their own opinions, assume responsibility for their own actions, and spend the fruits of their own labor as they see fit. I believe that a collection of individuals making their own decisions within the confines of a clear and concise set of laws that they have determined for themselves will advance society much more effectively than will a collection of experts who are confident in their knowledge of what is best for everyone else. This is why I support conservatives, who favor a smaller, less powerful government.
"A society founded on the basis of the individual freedom that flourishes under a limited federal government has no place for discrimination. Of the many mischaracterizations made of me by the press, the most repugnant to me have been the intimations that I am a white supremacist or a member of some other noxious group.
"Discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, creed, or anything of that sort is abhorrent to me. But more than that, it is ignorant.
"The press has also intimated that my politics marches in lockstep with Steve Bannon's. I have great respect for Mr. Bannon, and from time to time I do discuss politics with him. However, I make my own decisions with respect to whom I support politically. Those decisions do not always align with Mr. Bannon's.
"Without individuals thinking for themselves, society as a whole will struggle to distinguish the signal of truth from the correlated noise of conformity. I supported Milo Yiannopoulos in the hope and expectation that his expression of views contrary to the social mainstream and his spotlighting of the hypocrisy of those who would close down free speech in the name of political correctness would promote the type of open debate and freedom of thought that is being throttled on many American college campuses today. But in my opinion, actions of and statements by Mr. Yiannopoulos have caused pain and divisiveness undermining the open and productive discourse that I had hoped to facilitate. I was mistaken to have supported him, and for several weeks have been in the process of severing all ties with him.
"For personal reasons, I have also decided to sell my stake in Breitbart News to my daughters.
"I would also like to inform you of a decision I have reached with respect to my role at Renaissance, an organization I adore with colleagues whom I deeply respect and admire. I am 71 years old, the same age that Jim Simons was when he retired. I do not plan to retire, but I do plan to relinquish my management responsibilities.
"Peter Brown and I have been Co-CEOs for the past eight years. On January 1, 2018, I will step down from my position as Co-CEO and resign from the board of directors. I will continue with the firm as a member of its technical staff, focusing on the research work that I find most fulfilling. Peter will continue on as CEO, and I will provide him with my counsel whenever he feels that I can be helpful to him and to the company where I have spent so many wonderful years."
"During the past year, I have been the object of a great deal of scrutiny from the press. I have declined to comment on what has been written about me, imagining that with time the attention would dissipate. Because that has yet to happen, I have decided to correct some of the misinformation that has been published about me. It is not my intention to impose the views I describe below on anyone else.
"My goal is simply to explain my thinking, the very essence of which is that all of us should think for ourselves.
"I believe that individuals are happiest and most fulfilled when they form their own opinions, assume responsibility for their own actions, and spend the fruits of their own labor as they see fit. I believe that a collection of individuals making their own decisions within the confines of a clear and concise set of laws that they have determined for themselves will advance society much more effectively than will a collection of experts who are confident in their knowledge of what is best for everyone else. This is why I support conservatives, who favor a smaller, less powerful government.
"A society founded on the basis of the individual freedom that flourishes under a limited federal government has no place for discrimination. Of the many mischaracterizations made of me by the press, the most repugnant to me have been the intimations that I am a white supremacist or a member of some other noxious group.
"Discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, creed, or anything of that sort is abhorrent to me. But more than that, it is ignorant.
"The press has also intimated that my politics marches in lockstep with Steve Bannon's. I have great respect for Mr. Bannon, and from time to time I do discuss politics with him. However, I make my own decisions with respect to whom I support politically. Those decisions do not always align with Mr. Bannon's.
"Without individuals thinking for themselves, society as a whole will struggle to distinguish the signal of truth from the correlated noise of conformity. I supported Milo Yiannopoulos in the hope and expectation that his expression of views contrary to the social mainstream and his spotlighting of the hypocrisy of those who would close down free speech in the name of political correctness would promote the type of open debate and freedom of thought that is being throttled on many American college campuses today. But in my opinion, actions of and statements by Mr. Yiannopoulos have caused pain and divisiveness undermining the open and productive discourse that I had hoped to facilitate. I was mistaken to have supported him, and for several weeks have been in the process of severing all ties with him.
"For personal reasons, I have also decided to sell my stake in Breitbart News to my daughters.
"I would also like to inform you of a decision I have reached with respect to my role at Renaissance, an organization I adore with colleagues whom I deeply respect and admire. I am 71 years old, the same age that Jim Simons was when he retired. I do not plan to retire, but I do plan to relinquish my management responsibilities.
"Peter Brown and I have been Co-CEOs for the past eight years. On January 1, 2018, I will step down from my position as Co-CEO and resign from the board of directors. I will continue with the firm as a member of its technical staff, focusing on the research work that I find most fulfilling. Peter will continue on as CEO, and I will provide him with my counsel whenever he feels that I can be helpful to him and to the company where I have spent so many wonderful years."
This story will be updated.
#1 political donor in 2016 was just forced out of his CEO position (presumably by Jim Simons and Henry Laufer and Peter Brown all big Dem donors)
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