CYBERWAR/ELECTION/NATIONAL SECURITY/RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “U.S. President Donald Trump will convene his national security advisers on Friday [7-27-18] for a high-level meeting on election security, less than four months until Americans vote to determine whether his fellow Republicans maintain control of Congress. The White House meeting comes amid new accusations of Russian meddling in U.S. elections. On Thursday [7-26-18], Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill was identified as the target of a hacking attempt ahead of the November midterm elections. A top Microsoft official last week said Russian hackers have targeted at least three candidates but did not name them. Questions persist over whether U.S. states are prepared to thwart cyber attacks even as debate rages over alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, which Trump won. The stakes in the midterm elections are high. Republicans hold majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, but if historical patterns hold true, Democrats, as the party out of power, could gain ground in the contests.”
–Reuters Staff, “Trump convenes election security meeting as hacking looms,” Reuters, July 27, 2018 6:39 am