Hungarian authorities have stopped food distribution for rejected asylum seekers held in transit zones on the country’s border with Serbia since early August, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

In a report published on Wednesday, HRW called for the Hungarian government to adhere to its legal obligations and ensure that all asylum seekers in custody are provided with sufficient and appropriate food.

“The government has stooped to a new inhumane low by refusing food to people in their custody, apparently revelling in breaching human rights law, including its obligations as a European Union member,” said Lydia Gall, Eastern EU and Balkans researcher at HRW.

“This disregard for people’s wellbeing smacks of a cynical move to force people to give up their asylum claims and leave Hungary”.

The migrants are held in the two transit centres on the border with Serbia. They are not allowed to leave during the processing of their application, unless they choose to return.

Two Afghan families and two Syrian brothers are among those who were denied food after their asylum applications were rejected under a new admissibility procedure.

While a breastfeeding woman and children in the Afghan families were provided with food, they were prohibited from sharing it with other family members, the families’ legal representatives told HRW.

The European Court of Human Rights (EUCHR) ordered Hungary on August 10 to resume food distribution for the two Afghan families and has since issued similar orders in response to three other appeals, including on behalf of the Syrian brothers.

While Hungarian authorities respected the orders so far, dozens of other rejected asylum seekers may face food deprivation, according to HRW.

Hungary’s Immigration and Asylum Office on August 20 argued that there is nothing in Hungarian law that obliges authorities to provide food to people in the “aliens policing procedure” in transit zones.

However, HRW noted that authorities have binding obligations under multiple human rights treaties and norms that prohibit inhuman treatment of those in their custody. Authorities are required to treat those under their custody with humanity which includes providing them food, water, hygiene and medical needs.

In its report, HRW called for the government to amend their legislation to ensure that everyone in a transit zone, regardless of the status of their applications, has their basic needs met.

Turning to courts for a slice of bread

On August 20, a pastor, Gabor Ivanyi, was denied access when he tried to deliver food to people in the transit zones during a national holiday known as “Festival of the New Bread”.

Currently a young woman from Afghanistan is at the receiving end of Hungary’s policy, but more similar cases are likely to emerge in the coming days, Andras Lederer of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, (HHC) a human rights watchdog, told dpa news agency.

The woman had appealed against the decision by Hungarian immigration authorities to refuse her asylum. HHC sued Hungary last week at the EUCHR on behalf of the Afghan woman.

“It’s completely outrageous and absurd that people have to turn to the courts to get a slice of bread,” Gall said. 

“EU institutions should take this latest attack on people’s rights, add it to the large file of rule of law and human rights concerns in Hungary, and send a clear message that blatantly abusing asylum seekers and flouting EU rules will have serious consequences.”

Hungary’s populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban took a harsh stance on refugees and migrants during the 2015-16 migration crisis.

His country was the first to stop people from entering and has passed laws aimed at discouraging migrants from attempting a transit or from seeking asylum.

HRW noted in its report that since 2015, the Orban government has “engaged in a virulent campaign” against migrants and asylum seekers, including attempts to demonise organisations that provide legal and humanitarian assistance to these groups.

One of the targets has been George Soros, the Hungarian-born philanthropist billionaire known for funding NGOs and development organisations worldwide.

SOURCE: Al Jazeera and news agencies

By any metric you choose to use, Post Malone had a good time on Monday night (August 20) at the 2018 VMAs. After he nabbed Song of the Year for “rockstar” (and accepted the award in an extremely humble way), Posty teamed up with actual rock stars Aerosmith for a very loud, very smoky mash-up performance that closed out the night.

Before the night ended, MTV News grabbed a still-sweaty Post backstage for a quick exit interview, and when the show wrapped, he (presumably) went on his way to a well-earned night of celebration and revelry.

But by Tuesday, as Post attempted to fly out of the New York area and head to a gig in England, two of the wheels on his private plane reportedly blew out on takeoff. For a bit there, it looked hazardous: Twitter exploded as the news made its way across the web.

Luckily, the plane eventually landed safely in New Windsor, New York, about 70 miles north of New York City, after being originally diverted to an airport in Massachusetts. Post quickly took to Twitter to 1) confirm his safety, and 2) give a virtual middle finger to the people who weren’t pulling for him during the harrowing episode.

Post is scheduled to hit the Reading Festival in the U.K. on August 24 the same night as Travis Scott, who also had a big night at the VMAs.

As the man himself said in simple, additional statement he made to Billboard after the ordeal, “I’m alive. I’m ready to rock on.”

We hoped this England-India Test series would be something special, and it is turning into a cracker.

After England won a thriller at Edgbaston, there was a danger India would surrender following their heavy defeat in the second Test at Lord’s.

We thought if the ball nipped around again at Trent Bridge, England would be superior. Remember, Joe Root won the toss in Nottingham and asked India to bat first.

However, India have been resurgent, beating England in their own conditions. The series is alive thanks to an excellent fightback by the visitors.

There was real hostility in India’s quick bowling and the slip catching is currently providing a stark contrast between the two sides.

India are in a different league, their cordon slick and athletic. They allow the ball to come to them as if they are saying ‘come on, let’s have that edge’.

England are dropping catches, or sometimes not even getting a hand on them. You hold your breath every time an India batsman offers a chance.

At Lord’s, the India batting was decimated, characterised by a horror shot played by Murali Vijay that resulted in him losing his off stump to James Anderson.

Before there were too many sub-continental leg-side flicks, but at Trent Bridge they collectively made an adjustment to play much straighter.

Virat Kohli has clearly been outstanding throughout the series, but batting is obviously something the rest of the team have talked about and worked on. They have realised batting the way they do at home will get them out in England. It has been an impressive improvement.

The tourists do have an issue over the fitness of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, but there is a week before the fourth Test begins for them to put that right.

They will go to Southampton full of confidence, while England, who had won their previous three Tests, have some questions to answer.

What is frustrating is they are the same questions that have lingered for some time, particularly around the batting line-up, the way they play and their habit of falling in a heap.

Like last year on this ground, when they were heavily beaten by South Africa, England’s batsmen cost them the match.

This time, they were blown away in one session and whenever that happens there is no way back.

When England were 62-4 on the fourth morning, it looked like it might happen again, only for Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes to show real fight and discipline. I wrote on Tuesday about what an example they should be for their team-mates.

The manner in which Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings got out in the second innings is worrying, because they seem to keep edging behind.

Ishant Sharma is all over Cook at the moment. As an old bowler, I know the pleasure you can take from dominating a batsman. You do not let him forget it, either. You might remind him he is your bunny and ask if he’s been eating lettuce as he arrives in the middle.

I am actually surprised Cook has not worked it out by now, because Ishant really only has one trick.

He goes round the wicket to the left-handers, angling the ball in, then moving it away slightly off the seam. They are lovely deliveries, but you know what he is going to do. He does not take the ball the other way.

Cook could leave more on length. Ishant is tall and a lot of his deliveries will not actually hit the stumps. If a batsman knows that, it provides a decent starting point from which to play. In this instance, Cook should look to leave as much as possible.

At the other end, is Jennings – in his second stab at Test cricket – looking the part? I’m not sure he is.

The Lancashire man looks stiff, with a front leg that does not go anywhere. He simply plants the front foot and if the ball moves either way there is a chance he will present an edge or be lbw. There is an issue there.

He averages only 20.50 since being brought back into the side, but, now England have taken the step of recalling him, it is probably right they give him an extended run until the end of the series.

Yes, there are issues that have not gone away, but they must be absolutely sure before discarding him again.

Beyond the opening pair, Joe Root played a desperately disappointing shot in the second innings, while I really do not know what Ollie Pope was doing, trying to drive a wide one and getting caught at third slip.

Pope is young, only 20 and playing his second Test, so you have to make allowances, but that was an extraordinary shot and not one of a number four trying to save a Test. I hope he has learned his lesson.

England may have a hole at number five following the broken finger sustained by Jonny Bairstow.

Presumably they will give the gloves to Buttler and call in another batsman. I would be surprised if it is another young or inexperienced player given Pope has only just come into the side.

Moeen Ali is already in the Test squad, has five Test centuries and scored a double hundred for Worcestershire against Yorkshire on Tuesday. He would also give England an off-spinning option if needed.

Jonathan Agnew was talking to BBC Sport’s Stephan Shemilt

The pattern of the Trump presidency has been this: jaw-dropping news, which becomes the subject of breathless analysis, which brings predictions of a fundamental shift in the body politic, which doesn’t happen and is soon supplanted by the next piece of jaw-dropping news.

This time seems different. Really.

What’s different is the developments that rattled the capital and its most famous resident Tuesday can’t be swayed by smart spin or distracted by the rage of the Twitterverse. The astounding loyalty of the president’s political base, which is likely to hold, is irrelevant.

Now Robert Mueller’s special counsel investigation has won its first trial, convicting former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort of financial fraud. The verdict came minutes after Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty, implicating Trump in violating campaign finance laws by paying hush money during the 2016 campaign.

More: President Donald Trump put on defense as Paul Manafort, Michael Cohen fall in court

More: Paul Manafort: What’s next for the former Trump campaign head after guilty verdict?

More: Five things to know about Michael Cohen’s guilty plea

There will be more courtroom dramas ahead.

The sense of accelerating peril around Trump rivals the most disruptive days of the scandals of his predecessors – of the turning points in the Watergate scandal that forced Richard Nixon’s resignation, and in the Monica Lewinsky affair that led to Bill Clinton’s impeachment.

Even some of the president’s allies worry that events are spiraling in ways that are impossible to predict and that could provoke a presidential response that could be impossible to control. A decision by Trump to pardon Manafort (whom he praised on Twitter Wednesday for refusing to “break”) or to fire Mueller would create a whole new category of calamity.

Consider the implications of the defense being offered by the president and those on his side.

“This has nothing to do with Russian collusion,” Trump told reporters at the White House, saying the Manafort verdict “doesn’t involve me.”

And on Capitol Hill, Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Republican leadership, struck a similar note.

“Well, I haven’t been able to look at all the details, but I would note that none of this has anything to do with the Russian collusion or meddling in the election,” he said.

That’s true. The jail time that Manafort and Cohen face aren’t for crimes involving helping Moscow meddle in America’s election. But Trump now finds himself facing more traditional allegations, that he broke the law trying to cover up two extramarital affairs when they threatened to become political threats.

And the investigations into possible collusion with Russia and obstruction of justice are continuing. Some of the big decisions are expected to be made soon – by Trump on whether to voluntarily answer Mueller’s questions, and by Mueller on whether to subpoena the president if he doesn’t.

Voters’ attitudes toward Trump are sufficiently hardened that they may not budge now. His supporters typically cite the president’s combative attitude and the robust economy of his tenure as reasons to back him, not their faith in his personal behavior.

But these latest furors could nonetheless affect the midterm elections, now just 76 days away – not by changing the ballots voters cast but by determining whether they bother to cast them. Republicans who would never consider voting for a Democratic candidate may be discouraged enough by the taint of scandal to just stay home. Democratic-leaning voters who don’t usually bother to vote, especially in midterm elections, may feel energized to go the polls.

And then?

Nonpartisan analysts now rate a Democratic takeover of the House of Representatives as likely, though not assured. That outcome would give Democrats the power to hold hearings, launch investigations, issue subpoenas – and impeach the president.

More: Mueller investigation: Here’s what the fates of Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen will mean for the Russia probe

More: This is what Paul Manafort was found guilty of

 

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Hurricane Lane, which is currently bearing down on Hawaii, is “not a well behaved storm,” according to the state’s governor David Ige.

Spinning in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the hurricane has grown into a monstrous Category 5 storm, the most powerful type of hurricane with winds now reaching 160 mph. 

Tuesday evening, the National Hurricane Center called the cyclone “an impressive hurricane,” and forecast that the storm will “move dangerously close to the main Hawaiian Islands as a hurricane Thursday through Saturday.”

Hawaii’s residents should “prepare for a significant impact” from Hurricane Lane, Ige said.

National hurricane scientists emphasize that even if the center of the storm — where winds are strongest — doesn’t pass directly over the islands, the state could still face serious problems from the storm.

A storm this sprawling and powerful can bring threatening downpours and winds “well away from the center of the hurricane, and impacts could be felt on any of the islands,” the National Hurricane Center said.

It’s rare for powerful storms to veer near these well-populated tropical islands, in large part because hurricanes feed on warmer waters, and the oceans around Hawaii are often relatively cool for tropical seas. 

Yet, the National Hurricane Center notes that ocean waters along the storm’s predicted track are currently “warm enough to support a major hurricane.”

Hurricane Lane is only the sixth Category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the central Pacific, Federal Emergency Management Agency atmospheric scientist Michael Lowry tweeted. But, Lane is the closest Category 5 storm to Hawaii that scientists have ever observed, he added. 

Although any year can bring warmer waters to a marine region, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and university scientists published research last year arguing that the tropical Pacific will likely see more “extremely active” hurricane seasons as human-caused global warming boosts ocean temperatures.

As the planet continues an accelerated rate of warming due to human-caused climate change, around 95 percent of accumulated heat gets absorbed by the oceans, increasing the background levels of ocean warming and making warmer-than-normal temperatures more likely. 

“Global warming is really ocean warming,” Josh Willis, an oceanographer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, recently said in an interview.

A classic hurricane killer is wind shear — winds that hit hurricanes on their sides and can tilt them or blow off their top. 

But as of Tuesday night, government forecasters didn’t expect increasing wind shear around Hawaii until Thursday evening, after some major effects are likely already felt in the state.

As the storm skims the islands, or perhaps even makes landfall, severe and potentially historic flooding is expected. 

According to the National Hurricane Center, there will certainly be battering waves on the coast and potentially “life-threatening flash flooding from heavy rainfall” as water pours down the famously mountainous Hawaiian terrain. 

Michael Cohen, the former lawyer of US President Donald Trump, who pleaded guilty on Tuesday to campaign finance violations, may have “information that would be of interest” to the special counsel investigating Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, according to his lawyer. 

In a series of interviews with US television outlets on Wednesday, Lanny Davis said he believes his client has information that would be of interest to Special Counsel Robert Mueller, suggesting in an interview with MSNBC that it was directly tied to Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 election. 

Cohen has “information … regarding both knowledge of a conspiracy to corrupt American democracy by the Russians and the failure to report that knowledge to the FBI”, Davis told MSNBC. 

On CNN, he added that his client “has knowledge that would be of interest to the special counsel about whether Donald Trump knew ahead of time about the hacking of emails.” 

Mueller is investigating Russian attempts to influence the 2016 election and whether there was any cooperation or links with the Trump campaign. 

Trump lashes out

On Wednesday, Trump lashed out at Cohen, as well as the Mueller investigation, tweeting it was an “witch hunt”, a phrase he has repeatedly used in the past.  

One tweet specifically referenced the trial of Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman, who was convicted of eight financial crimes on Wednesday in a case stemming from the Russia probe. The judge declared a mistrial on the 10 other counts the jury could not agree on. 

“A large number of counts, ten, could not even be decided in the Paul Manafort case. Witch Hunt!” Trump tweeted. 

Trump also tweeted that he feels “badly” for Manafort, saying “tremendous pressure” was put on him and “unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to ‘break’ – make up stories in order to get a ‘deal’.” 

There has been no indication that Cohen will talk to or cooperated with Mueller’s team. 

Implicates Trump

In addition to pleading guilty to campaign finance violations, Cohen also admitted to tax and bank fraud. 

In court on Tuesday, Cohen said he made payments to influence the 2016 election at the direction of a candidate for federal office. 

Questioned by the federal judge, Cohen said he had paid sums of $130,000 and $150,000 each to two women who claimed they had affairs with Trump, acting at his boss’s request, in a bid to buy their silence “with the purpose of influencing the election”. 

Cohen did not specify the women’s names, but the sums correspond to a payment known to have been made to adult film star Stormy Daniels just before the election to silence her claims of a one-night stand with Trump – and another destined for former Playboy model Karen McDougal. 

He also did not name Trump, but said it was “in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office”, and the other was made “under direction of the same candidate”.

The payments to the women could be regarded as an illegal campaign expenditure if the money was clearly meant to influence the 2016 election. Trump, on Twitter, maintained otherwise, saying, “Michael Cohen plead guilty to two counts of campaign finance violations that are not a crime.”

Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, said in a statement on Tuesday that “there is no allegation of any wrongdoing against the president in the government’s charges against Mr Cohen.”

In Wednesday’s interviews, Cohen’s lawyer, Davis, also said his client would not accept a presidential pardon from Trump. “He will not, and does not want anything from Donald Trump,” Davis told MSNBC. 

SOURCE: Al Jazeera and news agencies

Drake wasn’t wrong when he told the world that La Flame was “in sicko mode.” Ever since that bold proclamation, Travis Scott‘s Astroworld has secured the second-largest debut of 2018 on the Billboard 200, brought a thrilling theme-park adventure to the VMA stage, and given the Houston rapper the No. 1 album in the country for two weeks in a row. Thankfully, Scott returned the favor on Tuesday (August 21) by gracing the stage with Drake during the Aubrey & The Three Amigos tour’s first stop.

The audience at the Scotiabank Arena predictably went bonkers when Scott emerged to perform his verse. It also wouldn’t be a Travis show if he didn’t briefly bring the Canadian crowd to the rodeo. Before he left, the Houston artist performed his 2016 hit, “Goosebumps.”

Interestingly, Drake also took time out of his show to briefly discuss some of his political beliefs with the crowd. The Toronto rapper is generally apolitical in his music, which makes the few words he did share standout.

“I’m forever grateful, everywhere I go, I carry the values of this city with me,” Drake said. “Every night that I go and I do a show in America. I tell them, ‘This is how the world is supposed to work.’ You see, tonight, we got 17,000 people inside one building from all races, from all places, and all we are doing is just listening to music, and smoking and drinking — and enjoying our lives. And I want you to know that that’s something that I learned right here in Toronto.”

Preach, Drizzy, preach.

Kyle Lafferty has returned to Rangers after Hearts accepted an improved offer for the Northern Ireland striker.

The 30-year-old, who spent four years at Ibrox from 2008 to 2012, has signed a two-year deal at Ibrox.

Rangers had a bid of £200,000 rejected in July for the forward, who scored 20 goals after joining Hearts last summer.

“When a player has his mind fully set on moving, it is difficult to reach an alternative conclusion,” said Hearts owner Ann Budge.

“It is no secret that this has been a particularly difficult and drawn-out affair. But the deal will suit all parties.”

Lafferty could make his debut in Thursday’s Europa League qualifier against FC Ufa at Ibrox, with clubs permitted to register two ‘wildcard’ signings the day before a Uefa competition fixture.

Speaking before the deal was announced, Rangers manager Steven Gerrard said if it was completed in time “of course he will be available and involved”.

‘What Hearts have done for me is superb’

After Rangers’ initial bid was rejected, Lafferty conceded the lure of a return to Ibrox was strong, while acknowledging the support Hearts have given him in dealing with a gambling addiction.

“I think everyone knows I’m a Rangers supporter,” he told BBC Scotland after scoring the winner against Celtic earlier in August.

“What Hearts have done for me has been superb,” Lafferty added. “Hopefully I’ve repaid them with the goals.”

He scored 20 in his 48 appearances for the Edinburgh club, who he joined from Norwich after spells with Sion in Switzerland and Palermo in Italy.

Lafferty, who began his career with Burnley and has won 67 caps for Northern Ireland, handed his shirt to a young fan at the end of last Saturday’s League Cup win at Dunfermline Athletic, after coming on as a substitute in what proved his final Hearts outing.

He becomes Steven Gerrard’s 12th signing since taking over at Ibrox this summer.

‘Lafferty scores important goals’ – analysis

Former Rangers captain Lee McCulloch

He gives you so many options. He can play on his own and he could possibly be a great foil for Alfredo Morelos. He’s got pace, he can stretch a defence, and he has presence. I don’t see him as a prolific goalscorer but he scores important goals and I think that’s what Rangers need.

Former Celtic striker Scott McDonald

I wouldn’t imagine he would play every week, but the beauty of Kyle though is he can play in the wide areas as well, which helps the squad. He can fill in somewhere and cause chaos. I think he will be a great addition.

Chris Truax, Opinion contributor
Published 11:00 a.m. ET Aug. 22, 2018

Michael Cohen knows about all the skeletons in Trump’s closet. Manafort could begin to cooperate with Mueller. For Trump, this is crunch time.

One of the few things that all Americans can agree on regardless of their political leanings is that the non-stop barrage of scandal and controversy is getting exhausting. Once upon a time, August was the silly season when everyone, including politicians and reporters, took a well-deserved break and the news was dominated by stories about weekend traffic and water-skiing squirrels.

Alas, no longer. Yesterday, in the course of less than an hour, two separate bombshells dropped. In more innocent days, either one of these would have rocked the country for months. First, after a twelve-day trial, a jury found President Donald Trump’s ex-campaign manager, Paul Manafort, guilty on eight felony counts involving bank fraud and tax evasion. The judge declared a mistrial on ten other counts which could, if the prosecution chooses, be re-tried later. Second, Trump’s former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty to eight felony counts involving one count of bank fraud, five counts of tax evasion and, crucially, two felony campaign finance violations. These last two are critical because they directly implicate the president in a felony conspiracy. Even by current standards, this is not normal.

Trump could pardon Paul Manafort

As shocking as it is, the Manafort case does not — at least not yet — implicate Trump in any illegal activity. But Manafort faces yet another trial next month and Robert Mueller, the special prosecutor tasked with investigating matters related to Russia’s interference in the 2016 election, would very much like Manafort’s assistance. So far, Manafort has refused to cooperate. But not, we can be sure, out of loyalty to Trump.

Now that Manafort is facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison, there are two possibilities. He either fully cooperates in the hope of limiting his eventual sentence, or Trump pardons him. I have no idea what, if any, information Paul Manafort might have that would interest Robert Mueller. But Trump knows, and if there is any such information, Trump may well decide to pardon him and accept the political consequences. 

Michael Cohen, who was being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office rather than Robert Mueller’s office is, if possible, an even worse nightmare for the president. First, while Cohen appears to have entered his guilty plea without any formal cooperation agreement with the prosecution, it seems clear he is pretty cooperative already. The two campaign finance felonies he admitted involved paying off Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal which, according to Cohen’s guilty plea in open court, he did “in coordination with and at the direction of a candidate for federal office.” In other words, he made illegal payoffs to these women on Trump’s orders.

More: Paul Manafort’s conviction means only Donald Trump can keep him out of prison now

Manafort trial will test Mueller’s Russia investigation and Trump’s ‘witch hunt’ charge

Michael Cohen’s playmate payoff tape with Donald Trump puts both men in legal crosshairs

This is bad enough. These charges aren’t going to disappear. While it is extremely unlikely Trump will be indicted while he is in office — Department of Justice guidelines forbid indicting a sitting president — it is hard to imagine that the next ambitious U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York would not prosecute these charges. Rudy Giuliani made his name as a U.S. attorney prosecuting mobsters and insider traders. Imagine prosecuting a president of the United States.

But it gets worse. If anyone knows where the bodies are buried, it’s Michael Cohen. He was, after all, Trump’s grave digger-in-chief for many years. Whatever else may be out there, it’s all going to be in the hands of the U.S. attorney. And, unlike Manafort, Cohen was prosecuted by the regular U.S. attorney’s office which has a mandate to investigate any federal crimes they discover, whether it has anything to do with Russia or not.

Trump could undermine the rule of law

So what does all this mean? It means that, if Trump has anything to panic about, he’s panicking now. He’s likely to do something desperate and damaging: fire Mueller, pardon Manafort, pardon himself. The only thing that has restrained him so far is his fear of political retribution. But now that the fear of political retribution is being replaced by the certainty of legal retribution, there is no telling what he will do.

The next several weeks are critical. If Trump is going to take steps to interfere with Robert Mueller’s investigation or subvert the justice system through use of the pardon power, it will likely be soon. 

I don’t know what, if anything, Trump is guilty of. But I do know that no one, including Trump, is worth sacrificing the rule of law. In a way, this is all kind of thrilling. The rule of law is the cornerstone of our constitutional system of government, one of those things we learned about in seventh grade civics class and that people like Washington, Jefferson and Madison fought for. So regardless of whether, in our opinion, Trump is being treated “fairly” or not, it is something that each one of us needs to stand up for and defend. Because the rule of law is not a Republican or a Democrat thing. It’s not a liberal or a conservative thing. It’s an American thing

Chris Truax, an appellate lawer in San Diego, is on the legal advisory board of Republicans for the Rule of Law. 

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This post is part of Hard Refresh, a soothing weekly column where we try to cleanse your brain of whatever terrible thing you just witnessed on Twitter.

After hours looking at a screen and dealing with whatever trash the internet has to throw at me, my brain is frazzled.

When I need to stitch my mind back together, there’s a panacea I often rely on: The oddly calming combination of police radio and ambient music. 

youarelistening.to blends never-ending streams from police scanners around the world, airport traffic control, spooky numbers stations, or even speeches from John F. Kennedy, with a playlist of ambient music from SoundCloud.

Image: mashable screenshot

It started as fluke, according to its creator Eric Eberhardt, telling FACT he was listening to police radio in San Francisco after the Giants had won the World Series in 2010, before getting bored and switching on some music.

“I started playing some electronic music from my iTunes, and that combination of the police scanner audio and the ambient electronic music that I was playing worked really, really well together,” he told the publication. “It sounded like the soundtrack to a film or something.”

Indeed, listening to the indistinguishable murmurs of humans talking over the soft atmospherics of ambient music has a cinematic quality to it.

It might just be an LAPD officer reporting a narcotics spot over the radio, or a pilot requesting to land at Sydney Airport, but the addition of gently rising strings behind their voices makes it so much more compelling. Don’t knock it until you get immersed in it.

The website has expanded to a monthly radio show on London-based station NTS, in which one episode features scanner audio around the eruption of the Kilauea volcano.

Certainly the concept of interspersing field recordings and music is nothing new. 

Musicians have immortalized recordings in albums like the seminal “Chill Out,” by British group the KLF, or in the works of Scottish duo Boards of Canada, who heavily sample public broadcasting TV of the ’70s.

But the mostly improvised nature of youarelistening.to makes for a fascinating experience, and one that my mind appreciates getting lost in after a long day.