PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 04: John Podesta, campaign chairman for Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, looks on during a campaign rally at The Great Hall at Heinz Field on November 4, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
John Podesta, the former chairman for Hillary for America, was interviewed by Tech Crunch about the election, and specifically the hacking of his Gmail account and the emails of the Democratic National Committee shortly before the election in November. The emails from the DNC and Podesta were then posted on WikiLeaks. US intelligence agencies traced the hacking back to Russia, and the hack was one of the issues that plagued the Clinton campaign in the weeks leading up to the election.
In the interview, Podesta spoke about the hacking and the failure of the FBI to properly investigate. “I think to this day it’s inexplicable that they were so casual about the investigation of the Russian penetration of the DNC emails. They didn’t even bother to send an agent to the DNC; they left a couple of messages at the IT help desk saying, ‘You might want to be careful.’ There are at least forces within the FBI that wanted her to lose,” he said. Podesta also discusses the failures of the campaign and the rise of fake news. Read the full interview HERE. Follow Podesta on Twitter @johnpodesta.
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets audience members following a veterans roundtable discussion with the Truman National Security Project at the VFW Hall in Derry, New Hampshire November 10, 2015. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
On Tuesday, Hillary Rodham Clinton attended a round table event with the Truman National Security Project in Derry, New Hampshire. During the event, Clinton outlined her plans to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a department that has been heavily scrutinized for its outdated practices and massive backlog. Clinton said, “These problems are serious, systemic and unacceptable. They need to be fixed and they need to be fixed now.” She made it clear that the VA and its processes would not be privatized, but modernized in a way that honors the commitment of the veterans it serves. Clinton then spoke to veterans in attendance and answered to their questions while listening to their concerns. A video from the event will be posted when/if available.
Clinton’s plan is complex and contains multiple facets. The Clinton campaign released a full outline of the plan, and key points are below. CLICK HERE to read the full plan.
Ensure that Veterans have access to timely and quality health care
Create a new framework for heath care delivery by the VHA
Refocus as a veteran-centric provider of service-connected care
Synchronize and coordinate VHA benefits with other programs
Strategically purchase private-sector care
Establish a VHA Strategic Oversight and Governance Board
Ensure better communication between the Department of Defense (DoD) and VA
Streamline the DoD-VA health care footprint
Synchronize procurement to find cost savings
Streamline VA and DoD IT Systems
Improve healthcare for women at the VHA
New funding to ensure women equal and respectful access to health services
Requiring the provision of reproductive services
Broadening initiatives to provide childcare at VA medical facilities
End the veteran suicide epidemic
Increase funding for metal health providers and training
Expand programs targeted at providing effective mental heath treatment
Promoter better prescriber and treatment practices
Ensure that Military Sexual Trauma is acknowledged as a valid form of PTS
Encourage state VA departments to include mental health programs
Provide proper legal assistance to review and upgrade other than honorable discharge categorizations for those separated from service due to service-connected mental health and cognitive issues, such as TBI, PTS, and addiction
Continue to identify and treat invisible, latent, and toxic wounds of war
Maintain presumptions of service for latent and invisible connected wounds from the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq war, and Afghanistan war
Expand the current VA burn pit registry
Dedication research funding and provide mechanisms for collaborative efforts to improve veteran treatments
End disability benefits and appeals backlog
Streamline and simplify the claims process
Improve the VA’s partnership with the DoD
Launch an Innovation Initiative to develop innovative solutions for sustainably managing the claims and appeals process
Bring sustained and focused White House leadership to attention
Create a standing President’s Council on Veterans
Conduct an end-to-end evaluation to optimize the full scope of benefits afforded to our veterans
Convene a White House Summit on Veterans
Continue to engage private and philanthropic sectors
Support and broaden initiatives that provide educational benefits, job training, and support for veteran entrepreneurs.
Make the post-9/11 GI Bill part of the nation’s social contract with those who serve
Expand tax credit for veterans’ employment
Improve concurrent certification and credentialing programs
Strengthen veteran entrepreneurship programs
Create pathways and platforms for service member to enter growing career fields
Protect veterans
Fight back against schools that prey on veterans and the GI Bill
Enforce zero tolerance for firms that overcharge service members and veterans
Strengthen non-discrimination laws
Move decisively to end veteran homelessness
Increase funding for reducing homelessness while expanding public-private partnerships
Expand complementary programs and services
Address the needs of homeless women veterans and homeless veteran families
Support Veterans Treatment Courts nationally
Recognize the honorable service of LGBT veterans
Create a culture of accountability, service, and excellence
Hold every employee accountable for their performance and conduct
Revamp the performance evaluation system
Bolster critical whistleblower protections
Provide budgetary certainty
Ensure our veterans are buried with the honor, distinction, and integrity they deserve
Support smart compensation and benefits reform
Ensure reforms to military compensation and retirement benefits improve readiness for quality of life
Modernize the military health system
Adopting modern and inclusive personnel policies
Attracting millennials to military service
Zero-tolerance for Military Sexual Assault and Harassment
Welcoming women to compete for all military positions
Supporting the DoD policy review on transgender service
Promote family policies
Increase access to child care
Create flexibility around military moves
Expand military spouse employment initiatives
Champion efforts to care for our military members and families
Ensure continued focus on mental health for military members and their families
Hillary Clinton Speeches 